The birth and death registry will be decentralised to expand access and reach to the various local assemblies, according to the Head of the Office of Local Government Services (HOLGS), Dr Ato Arthur.

He said very soon the staff of the Birth and Death Registry will be ceremonially transferred to local government service.

Speaking at press soirée organised by his office last Thursday, he explained that despite the staff of the Registry being brought under the OHLGS, the signature to be embossed on the certificate will be that of the Birth and Death Registrar.

Dr Ato Arthur also announced that the Ministry of Local Government, Decentralisation and Rural Development has started negotiations on the election of Metropolitan, Municipal and District Chief Executives (MMDCEs), because it is something that the Office of the Local Government supports highly.

The referendum process to elect MMDCEs instead of appointing them was aborted by the same government who initiated it, due to mass rejection of the idea.

However, Dr Ato Arthur believes it was better government arrogates that power of appointing MMDCES to the people through popular election.