Ghana – Process
Overview
Ghana is a beautiful country about the size of Oregon, situated in the heart of West Africa. Ghanaian people feel a great responsibility to be friendly and welcoming to visitors. Foreigners are greeted with “Akwaaba! You are welcome!” Ghana is one of the most stable countries in Africa. Unfortunately the economy has struggled and, like most African countries, the majority of people live in poverty. 45% of Ghana’s people live on less than $1 per day, and up to 60% of Ghana’s children are involved in child labor or child slavery. UNICEF estimates that there are 1,000,000 orphans in Ghana. Traditionally the extended family would take on orphaned family members. But in today’s Ghana many children (even toddlers) are left to fend for themselves on the streets. AAI’s Ghana program began in 2007. Ghana families should be flexible and have a pioneering attitude that will help to pave the way for future families when unforeseen delays or changes in the process occur.Available Children
AAI places children ages 2-3 years or older. Babies 0-36 months may come into care from time to time, but this is not an “infant/toddler program.” There are many, many sibling sets in need of adoption in Ghana. The large majority of children that come into our care are part of a sibling set of 2-4 children. HIV+ children may be adopted from Ghana. There is a great need for families who will adopt sibling sets up to 8 years old. Most all children in Ghana have moderate English skills by the time they are adopted. Children in AAI’s Ghana program generally stay at Eban House, our children’s home in Accra, Ghana.Parent Eligibility
Married couples 25-50 years old may apply to adopt from Ghana. Single parents may not adopt at this time. Parents must be 25 years old and at least 21 years older than the child(ren) they intend to adopt. Couples where one parent is over 50 may adopt on a case by case basis (Ghana desires the other parent to be no more than 43). Families with up to 6 children may adopt, but smaller families are preferred by Ghana Social Welfare. The family size limit is often waved when the family wishes to adopt children with permanent special needs (such as HIV, limb difference, blindness, or Hep B). Parents with health issues and disabilities may adopt as long as your doctor will support your decision to adopt. Previous divorce is allowed.Process
Parents will first obtain an approved homestudy. A simple dossier of supporting documents will be sent to the Social Welfare department when a child has been identified. Social Welfare will then prepare a report on the child and adoptive family, and gain final permission from any biological family for the adoption. The adoptive family then travels to Ghana for approximately two weeks to attend the court date, receive the adoption decree, and file paperwork at the US Embassy in Accra. After immigration paperwork has been approved and travel documents have been issued we will represent the adoptive family at the US Embassy in Ghana in order to gain the US visa. Families may then travel back to Ghana to receive their child, or can arrange for AAI to escort their child to the U.S.Referral Information
Referral information includes at least one photo (sometimes video), and all available social and medical information. Children are tested for HIV, Hep B, sickle cell, and TB before referral. Sometimes video of waiting children is available. Waiting child information may be shared with homestudy-complete families with an application on file with AAI.Travel
There are several travel options with this program. Families may make a trip of two weeks, followed by a short pickup trip 4-8 weeks later; a two week trip and then have the child escorted by AAI; or can make one very long 4-8 weeks trip. At least one parent must travel for one trip to Ghana.Post-Placement
AAI requires adoptive families to present 3 social worker prepared post-placement reports at 1, 3, and 6 months after placement. Family written reports (and photos) will be required annually thereafter until the child is 18 years old. If you receive a “2 Year Interim Adoption” from Ghana, you will be required to submit a Social Worker report after 2 years, so that a full and final adoption decree can be issued in Ghana.
