Child Adoption on the Rise in Ghana: 158 Families Apply in First Half of 2024

Child adoption is on the rise in Ghana, with 158 families applying to adopt children in the first half of 2024, according to data from the Central Adoption Authority (CAA).

This marks a noticeable increase in interest, as the Authority received a total of 220 enquiries about adoption during the same period.

Mr. Stephen Tikai Dombo, Head of the CAA, noted that while comparative data from the previous year is unavailable, the current figures indicate a steady growth in adoption applications.

The number of applications varied each month, with January seeing 24 applications, February 21, March 28, April 41, May 25, and June 17.

Enquiries followed a similar pattern, starting at 70 in January and dropping to 18 by June. Mr. Dombo highlighted that families who have previously adopted children are often eager to adopt more, seeing it as a fulfilling act of support.

He encouraged more families to consider adoption, especially those facing infertility, and assured them of thorough support throughout the adoption process.

Mr. Dombo stressed that adoption is a positive and supportive action, citing an example of a couple in the Ashanti Region who, after adopting, were blessed with biological twins within a year.

However, he noted that specific preferences for children, such as physical features or age, can sometimes delay the process. Applicants are advised to keep their preferences flexible to speed up the adoption process.

The adoption process includes a mandatory investigation period of at least six months to locate a child’s biological parents. If the parents are not found within this period, the search can be extended.

After a year, if no biological parents are located, the child can be placed for adoption.

Mr. Dombo assured the public that Ghana’s membership in the Hague Convention ensures that international adoptions are well-regulated.

The CAA conducts post-adoption monitoring and provides psychosocial support, counseling, and assistance to adoptive families.

Since January 2020, the CAA has visited 75 adoptive families across eight regions, including both relative and non-relative adoptions, to ensure the well-being of adopted children.