The Dangers of Laminating Your Birth Certificate: A Formal Advisory from the Births and Deaths Registry

By Edwin Kobina Amoquandoh In a well-intentioned effort to preserve vital documents, many individuals resort to lamination —a common method of protecting paper from physical damage, moisture, and wear. However, when it comes to legal and security-sensitive documents such as the birth certificate , lamination does not serve as protection. Instead, it presents significant challenges that can render the document invalid for official purposes. This is why the Births and Deaths Registry of Ghana, along with other relevant authorities, has formally advised the general public to refrain from laminating birth certificates. The birth certificate is a critical identity document, serving not only as proof of birth but also as the foundation for acquiring a national ID card, passport, social security registration, and in some cases, employment. What many citizens are not aware of is that birth certificates are printed on security-grade paper embedded with multiple verification fea...