The Ghana Adoption Program is considered a Pilot Program for Madison Adoption Associates.  This means that it is a new program for MAA and our staff is still being educated on the specific details of the adoption process and the timing of each step in the process.  We ask that families keep an open mind, be flexible, and have a positive attitude when changes or unexpected delays happen.  Your adoption is lighting the way for other children in Ghana to be united with a permanent family.

The Children

In Ghana, children as young as 2 years old are available for adoption. Presently, it is estimated that there are over a million children who are classified as orphans in Ghana.   Ghana's depressed ecomony has caused many children to be forced into child labor or child slavery.  Many children are abandoned and left to fend for themselves.

Referral information typically includes at least one photograph of the child, all available social and medical history, and test results for Hepatitis B and HIV. 

Adoption Requirements

Ghana requires that adoptive parents be between the ages of 25 and 50, and be at least 21 years older than the child they are adopting.  There is no marriage requirement and a history of divorce is acceptable.  Single women are permitted to adopt with special permission from Ghana’s Social Welfare Department.  There is a family size limit of no more than 6 children in the home.  Adoptive parents with disabilities or health issues are generally approved for adoption if the primary care physician writes a letter of support.  Please contact Sara Lang to discuss the requirements for your individual situation.  

Waiting Time

Adoptive parents are permitted to travel after they have received court approval of the adoption, obtained a visa and received a travel letter of invitation from Ghana. This step takes approximately 6 months from the time of a child is matched with the adoptive parents.  

Required Travel

Ghana supports the belief that an adoptive family should be familiar with the child's heritage. Thus, we strongly encourage both parents to travel.  If only one parent is able to travel, it could lengthen the foreign stay and complicate the adoption process.  Adoptive parents will spend approximately 2-3 weeks in Ghana to complete the adoption procedures. 

Madison has a very capable and experienced team of representatives in Ghana who speak English and who will arrange your travel in Ghana.  This representative will meet you at the airport and accompany you throughout your stay.  We expect that an adoption trip to Ghana will be the experience of a lifetime.  

Adoption Fees

The total cost of this pilot program is still being determined.  Please contact Madison Adoption Associates to discuss this program. 

Waiting Children (Special Needs) Program

Madison Adoption Associates maintains a list of waiting children who are available for adoption through the Ghana Social Welfare Department.  These children are considered harder to place due to medical conditions or age.  

To view a list of our current waiting children, you are encouraged to join our on-line community, Madison Adoption Associates Waiting Children (MAAWC) Yahoo Group (www.groups.yahoo.com/group/MAAWC).  The names and locations of the children are confidential and access to these files is only given to families who are seriously considering the adoption of a waiting child.  

Madison Adoption Associates offers a Grant of $1000 for the adoption of a child with special needs.  Please contact Sara Lang, our Waiting Child Coordinator, to discuss your individual situation or help guide you through this process. 

Once you have decided to adopt from Ghana

Getting Started...

The staff at Madison Adoption Associates guides families through every step of the process. We help families prepare and complete the dossier, answer questions, provide support and assist with travel arrangements. It is important to begin the home study and the USCIS immigration process as soon as possible because these generally take up to six months to complete.