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Minister for Local Government and Rural development, Hajia Alima Mahama has directed the acting registrar of the Birth and Death Registry (BDR), Mr John Agbeko to immediately review the SOP and also names such as Nana, Nii papa and the likes as given by parents should be accepted for registration.

The acting Registrar at the Birth and Death unit, Mr John Agbeko few days ago stated that his unit does not allow certain prefix and suffixes deemed as titles to be registered as part of names on birth certificates.

This initiative according to him was because , local names like Nana, Nii, Naa, Nhyira, Dromo, Dzormo and Junior are mostly used as stool names or titles and must only be used in our homes or community and not to be added to names for birth registration.

The Registry claims, the use of such names, was not permissible by the Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 1965 (Act 301).

But the Minister for Local Government and Rural development in a speech read today in parliament out of citizen agitations opted for an immediate amendment to be made to the existing law.

“Mr Speaker, considering that the SOP serves as an operational guideline for the registration of birth and death, coupled with the sentiments expressed by the public the acting registrar of birth and death and birth registry has been directed to review the SOP and further directed that names such as Nana, Nii, Papa and so on as given by parents should be accepted for registration.

“The registry should prior be concerned with official titles such as Rev, Dr, Miss, Mr, Mrs, Hon, and so on", she said.

The Nalerigu-Gambaga Member of Parliament added that her ministry is working on a bill to be presented to Parliament to address the challenges.

“Mr. Speaker, the ministry of local government and rural development will very soon bring a date to parliament on the registration of birth and death which will address some of this controversies’ and to reflect and accommodate present trends and societal development”, she stated in parliament.