Ghana Pilot Program with Hopscotch Adoptions: Country and Program Overview
The ancient and historically significant country of Ghana is one of the five African nations along the northern coastline of the Gulf of Guinea. It is bordered on the west by Cote d'Ivoire, on the north by Burkina Faso, and on the east by Togo. The country consists mostly of low-lying savannah regions, with a central belt of forest.
Ghana's rich history centers on the once-great Ashanti empire, which rose to power during the late 17th century and continued to prosper as a center of the 18th century slave trade. The Ashanti capital, Kumasi, was one of the finest and most advanced cities in Africa, and the Ashanti state even employed significant numbers of Europeans as advisors and administrators. The European presence in Ghana is also marked by the multitude of colonial forts that dot its coastline--strongholds that anchored the European trade in gold, ivory, and slaves. Although Ghana, then known as the Gold Coast, was largely considered a British territory by the latter half of the 19th century, it wasn't until 1900 that the British succeeded in defeating the Ashanti and the area's other strong kingdoms.
If Ghana was late in coming under European control, it was also the first African nation to win back its independence, in 1957. However, corruption and internal military strife proved to be apparently intractable problems, and Ghana went through an extended period of instability in the 1960s and 1970s marked by military rule. The country has since then been moving steadily toward political and economic stability and is currently one of the most peaceful nations in Africa.
Unfortunately, Ghana’s economy is currently struggling and many of its people live in abject poverty. Numerous Ghanaian children have been orphaned by the conditions that their families live under, with parents who are unable to feed or clothe their children.
Current Status
Ghana is a joint pilot program for Partners for Adoption and Hopscotch Adoptions. As such, adoptive families must be comfortable in the knowledge that we are learning about the timing and details of the process as we work with our first families to complete their adoptions. Unexpected delays may occur, and families should remain open to changes in the process as they move through it.
Children Available
The children who are available for adoption from Ghana are generally aged 2.5 and up. Occasionally babies do become available. Sibling sets and older children are also in need of forever families. This is not an appropriate program for families who are only open to parenting an infant.
Parent Requirements
Married couples may adopt from Ghana. The country does not permit adoption by single parents. Parents must be between the ages of 25 and 50 and at least 21 years older than the child/children they wish to adopt.
Process
Once the family has initiated their homestudy and placement process with Partners for Adoption or Hopscotch Adoptions they must apply to USCIS for approval to bring an orphan into the United States and begin compiling their Ghana dossier. At this time, the Partners for Adoption/Hopscotch Adoptions in-country team will be notified that a family is preparing to adopt from Ghana. When the Partners for Adoption/Hopscotch Adoptions in-country team receive the completed dossier they request a child referral from the Ministry of Social Welfare. Upon the families acceptance of the referral the in-country team prepares the court paperwork that is required to complete the adoption. The court process then takes place, with the in-country team representing the family. It is possible that the family will be required to make a court appearance as well (this decision is at the discretion of the judge). Once the court process is complete the family travels to Ghana to file their I-600 and apply for the child’s passport.
Travel
Adoption from Ghana can be completed in one trip of approximately 4 weeks or several short trips. Because this is a pilot program, Partners for Adoption and Hopscotch Adoptions are still codifying the timeline.
Fees
Partners for Adoption/Hopscotch Adotpion’s Ghana adoption fees are approximately $14,000 plus the cost of in-country hosting ($150 per day) and international travel. This cost does not include the homestudy or attendant USCIS fees. Please request an intro packet from our website or contact us for a comprehensive fee sheet.