WHAT IS KILLING GHANAIANS? 2022 BIRTHS AND DEATHS REGISTRY REPORT REVEALS STARK REALITY

WHAT IS KILLING GHANAIANS? 2022 BIRTHS AND DEATHS REGISTRY REPORT REVEALS STARK REALITY

A disturbing new report from Ghana's Births and Deaths Registry has shed light on the top killers in the country, highlighting the silent epidemic of preventable and lifestyle-related diseases amid a worrying underreporting of deaths nationwide.

According to the 2022 Statistical Report on Death Registration, only 38 percent of the projected 134,934 deaths were officially registered. That means more than 60 percent of deaths in Ghana go undocumented, raising serious concerns about the integrity of national health data and policy planning.

The report, which recorded 50,992 registered deaths for the year, reveals striking disparities in regional reporting. Nearly 70 percent of these deaths occurred in just three regions: Greater Accra, Ashanti, and Eastern, suggesting both a higher rate of health challenges in urbanized areas or, perhaps more likely, better access to registration systems in these regions.

Men, the Middle-aged, and the Medically Neglected

Of those registered, 6 out of every 10 deaths were male, and 40.2 percent fell within the economically active 40/64 age group underscoring a national crisis where Ghana is losing a significant portion of its productive workforce to premature death.

Alarmingly, 4 out of 10 deaths occurred outside formal healthcare settings, a statistic that points to gaps in access to emergency care, late health-seeking behavior, or distrust in healthcare systems especially in rural or underserved areas.

The Leading Killers: Lifestyle and Non-Communicable Diseases

The report attributes over 36 percent of registered deaths to just 11 major causes. At the top of the list are:

• Hypertension  2,573 deaths
• Pneumonia  2,457 deaths
• Heart failure  2,225 deaths
• Acute respiratory failure  2,203 deaths

These four conditions alone accounted for over 18 percent of all registered deaths, with hypertension leading. the condition often tied to stress, poor diet, lack of exercise, and inadequate management.

Policy Implications and Public Health Urgency

Experts say the data calls for urgent investment in primary healthcare, lifestyle education, and disease prevention programs, especially for the middle-aged and male populations. The significant number of deaths outside health facilities also reinforces the need for improving community-based healthcare delivery and emergency response systems.

Furthermore, the high percentage of unregistered deaths presents a major governance challenge, as critical policy and health resource allocations depend heavily on accurate data. Civil registration systems must be strengthened to ensure that every Ghanaian life and death is counted.

Call to Action

As Ghana confronts the realities of its changing health profile, the report serves as both a mirror and a warning. Chronic diseases, silent suffering, and a breakdown in formal systems are taking a toll. Health stakeholders, from government ministries to local communities, must urgently collaborate to reverse these trends.

For full report access: 2022 Death Registration Report - Births and Deaths Registry