Ghana Closes 15 Orphanages

Issues continue in Ghana. Last year an adoption notice was issued. REFORM Talk discussed due diligence, Canadian issues with Ghana adoptions, and the Hohoe Orphanage  in January 2011.

A Dutch couple  was also involved in an adoption scandal in January 2011.

Now after an expose of the Osu Children’s Home, “The Ministry of Employment and Social Welfare has closed down 15 orphanages, out of the one hundred and twenty seven operating in the country.”

The names of the orphanages have yet to be disclosed.

Care Reform Initiative

“On August 23, 2007, the Department of Social Welfare launched the Care Reform Initiative to discourage the setting up of new Orphanages in favour of encouraging community based care and support.

Its aim is to transform the current system to ensure that Departments, Agencies and Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) in the country have the training and resources to encourage appropriate parental care, and ensure that institutional care in orphanages is used only as a last resort.

Mr. Mensah said the Department of Social Welfare under Legislation has also produced a data base of children in institutions, drafted guidelines for foster care and adoption and is in the process of drafting a Cabinet Memorandum for Ghana to accede to the Hague Convention on Intercountry Adoption.

The Hague Convention on Intercountry Adoption is an international convention which aims at protecting children and their families against the risks of illegal, irregular, premature or ill-prepared adoptions abroad.”

This article states that there are 127 orphanages and 4,000 children in their care. Five new orphanages have received licenses, but they decline to name those orphanages.

15 Orphanages Closed Down
[Modern Ghana 3/18/11 by Stephen Odoi-Larbi]

It appears that at least the following US adoption agencies (listed alphabetically) have open Ghana programs. Many of these agencies also have Ethiopia programs. It is not far-fetched to assume that some Ethiopia clients may shift to the Ghana program.

About A Child

Adoption Advocates International

Adoption ARK

African Cradle, Inc

Angels Haven Outreach

Children’s House International

Dillon International

Faith International Adoptions (brand new)

Hopscotch Adoptions, Inc

Life Adoption Services, Inc

Life’s Vision International

Madison Adoption

One World Adoptions

Partners for Adoption

Wasatch

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