The Minister-designate for the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection, Hajia Lariba Zuweira Abudu, has indicated that Ghana will adhere strictly to The Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption.
The Minister said this when the US Ambassador to Ghana, Virginia E. Palmer and the Division Chief for Intercountry Adoptions of the Department of State, Tim Eydelnant paid a working visit to the Ministry in Accra last Wednesday.
The Hague Convention on Protection of Children and Co-operation in Respect of Intercountry Adoption (or Hague Adoption Convention) is an international convention dealing with international adoption, child laundering and child trafficking to protect those involved from the corruption, abuses, and exploitation which sometimes accompanies international adoption.
Hajia Abudu, however, said there was a need to build the capacity of staff on adoption issues to equip them to provide the required services.
Madam Palmer, on her part, indicated that the US would continue to strengthen its ties with Ghana on adoption and its related issues by ensuring that adoptions are properly regulated and undertaken in line with the Hague Convention.
The visit was to discuss adoption processes between Ghana and the United States under the Hague Convention on Intercountry Adoption with the Central Adoption Authority under the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection.
The meeting also deliberated on ways to enhance coordination on adoption cases of Ghanaian children by US citizens under the Hague Convention on Intercountry Adoption.
Priscilla Nimako, ISD
