The Central Adoption Authority unit (CAA) under the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection has held its 2nd Technical Committee meeting on child adoption measures.
The goal of the conference was to match prospective adoptive parents with adoptable children after reviewing the adoption applications that had been submitted from both domestic and international sources.
Addressing the committee members, the Head of the Central Adoption Authority, Mr Stephen Tikai Dombo stated that the review would allow them to discuss and offer suggestions on the adoption applications while acting in the best interests of the kids.
He revealed to the members that the Adoption Training Manual which has been developed would now be used to train prospective adoptive parents in line with The Hague Convention and the Adoption Regulations 2018 L.I 2360 before matching and placement of adoptable children with prospective adoptive parents.
“This would help prepare prospective adoptive parents for the entire adoption process. Issues of disclosure to the adopted child by the parents, acceptance of the adopted child by members of the family, post adoption monitoring of the adoptive families among others, would be part of the preparation for the parents,” he emphasized.
Mr Dombo expressed concern about the number of children in residential care who are aging out and urged Ghanaians to welcome them into their hearts and homes.
He added that there was a need for increased advocacy and support in many forms from well-intentioned Ghanaians who choose to adopt children with special needs.
He continued by citing cases where some adoptive parents have expressed a desire to return their adopted child to the Department of Social Welfare and the Authority whenever they are having problems with the child.
Grace Acheampong, ISD
