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Ghana Adoption FAQ

What is the country of Ghana like?

Ghana is located in West Africa in the area that is sometimes referred to as the Gold Coast because of its natural resources and diamonds. Ghana has a population of approximately 22 million people with approximately 1 million of the population being orphans in need of families. The country is mainly agricultural and has a warm, humid and tropic climate. Although Ghana has many natural resources, the economy in Ghana is a struggling one and many of its people live in poverty. There are over 50 dialects spoken in Ghana, but English is the primary language and most people in Ghana speak English. Today Ghana is a peaceful nation and is considered the most politically stable country in Africa.

Who can adopt from Ghana?

• Married couples only - singles are not eligible to adopt.
• Adoptive parents must be between 25 and 49 years of age.
• Prior marriages are not an issue.
• There can be no more than 6 children currently living in the home.
• Adopting parents must be 21 years older than the child they adopt.
• Those with physical disabilities can adopt from Ghana if a medical doctor provides a letter of recommendation.

What are the children from Ghana like?

There are both male and female children available for adoption in Ghana. Babies are not generally available but the age range of those children who can be adopted ranges from older toddlers to children up to 15 years old and sibling groups are common. The children are beautiful, dark skinned with dark brown eyes and brown to black hair. Often time families place their children in orphanages because they cannot afford to feed or clothe them and feel adoption is the best way to a better life. The children are gentle, fun loving, and long for a better future. Most of the children are in fairly good physical condition although they do suffer from malnutrition and normal health issues that all children have.

How long will it take to complete an adoption from Ghana?

It usually takes about 12 months to complete the adoption once your adoption dossier is submitted to Ghana. However, although our staff in Ghana has successfully placed 10 children with families in the U.S, this program is still a pilot program and adopting parents must remain flexible and understand that delays in the process sometimes occur.

How do I find the child I want to adopt?

Once a family has completed a homestudy they must submit a Letter of Introduction and Request to the Department of Social Welfare. This letter is the official application for adoption from Ghana. The Social Welfare Department will review the homestudy and issues an appropriate referral to the adoptive family. Medical information will be provided as well as picture of the child referred. Children are usually tested for HIV, Hep B and sickle cell. Once the adoptive family accepts the child they must submit a dossier to the Social Welfare Department and the adoption process begins. It takes approximately 4 months from the time the Letter of Introduction and Request is submitted until a referral is issued.

Once the referral is accepted, what happens next?

Once the dossier is submitted to the Department of Social Welfare, a report is prepared on the child and the family and all permissions to release the child for adoption are obtained from any biological family members. The Department of Social Welfare will make a recommendation to the court regarding the placement. Once the case is registered in court, it is a fairly short process to obtain court approval. It normally takes approximately 12 months to obtain a referral and to finalize the adoption.

What paperwork is required in order to adopt from Ghana?

The process to adopt a child from Ghana is very similar to the adoption process in almost every other country around the world. Some of the documents needed for an adoption from Ghana are:

• An international homestudy completed by a qualified social worker employed by a licensed adoption agency. If you live in the state of Utah or Minnesota, WIA has social workers available who can complete a homestudy for prospective adoptive parents. If you live outside the states of Utah or Minnesota we can assist you in finding an agency to complete your homestudy.
• USCIS paperwork. Submitting paperwork to USCIS to obtain permission to bring an adopted, foreign born child into the U.S. is a requirement for every international adoption. WIA can assist you with the paperwork required by USCIS.
• Vital Statistic records such as birth certificates, certified divorce decrees, marriage licenses, etc.
• State and FBI criminal background clearances.
• Medical and psychological evaluations
• Letters of reference.

Although there are many documents required to complete an adoption dossier, WIA staff is experienced in helping adoptive families gather and complete all the paperwork required for an adoption from Ghana.

Do I have to travel to Ghana in order to complete an adoption?

Yes, often times there are 2 trips required, but the stay in Ghana is usually quite short and we will have staff on the ground in Ghana who will help you with the completion of your adoption and will be available for anything needed while you are in Ghana.

Once my child is home, am I done?

Most of the work is finished at this point. However, the government of Ghana requires the agency’s social worker to make 3 post adoption visits, type up a report, and the agency then sends these reports to Ghana. The schedule for these social worker reports is one at 1 months after coming home, one at 3 months after coming home, and one at 6 months after coming home with your child. Additionally, adoptive families must submit annual progress reports to the agency until the child is 18 years old. Parents can send all progress reports to WIA and we will send the progress reports to Ghana.

If you would like more information about adoptions from Ghana, please contact Kathy Junk at kathy@wiaa.org.