AGCI has an office in Tema, Ghana, a suburb of Accra the capital that provides abortion prevention through our Promise of Life outreach. It also serves as our communication center back to the AGCI main office in Portland, OR. Our Hannah’s Hope Foster Home serves children ages birth to three years old. It will have the capacity to care for 10-15 children. Our partner home, Haven of Hope, serves children 4-18 years of age. It will have the capacity to care for up to 50 children to be placed through AGCI.
It is very common for young women to want to have an abortion in Ghana. One goal of AGCI’s work in the country is to effectively reach out to these women through our Promise of Life program and offer them alternatives to abortion. In order to accomplish this, AGCI hopes to organize education, counseling, and support to any woman who may find herself in this position.
AGCI will work with the government of Ghana to find suitable families for children of all ages, sibling groups, and special needs placements.
Available Children
Children from 6 months to 15 years of age will be available for adoption. Currently we are recruiting families for children age 6 and older. Also, in our Waiting Children program sibling groups and older children may be available for adoptive parents.
Once you are contracted with AGCI, your first steps are to begin your dossier and home study. AGCI staff will assist your family in this paperwork process.
Adoption Process
Once your dossier is complete it is sent to AGCI’s office in Accra. Your family will also enter the waitlist to be placed with a child. This process of waiting can take 3-12 months, depending on the children that are available for placement through the Department of Social Welfare.
Once a child is available to be placed with your family and you decide to move forward, the placement is approved through the Department of Social Welfare, which can take 3-6 months. A Court appointment is then scheduled.
First Trip Travel Process
Once a Court appointment is assigned to your family (a few weeks after the Dept. of Social Welfare approval) your family will travel to Ghana for the Court appointment. Once the Court is approved your family will also submit the necessary documents to the U.S. Embassy in Accra. Your family will then travel home to the U.S. while these documents, along with a possible I 604 investigation takes place. Once this process is finalized, and your child’s passport is received, your family can travel back for the visa interview at the U.S. Embassy in Accra.
Second Trip Travel Process
The purpose of this trip is to go to the U.S. Embassy for your scheduled Visa appointment. Once this takes place, and your child’s visa is issued you are able to travel home.
Post-Adoption Process
Once your child is home, AGCI and Ghana require post-adoption visits and reports at three, six and 12 months.
Parents where the man is 25 years old and the woman is 23 years old are welcome to adopt a child infant or older. At any age, the parent must be 21 years older than the child. Parents who are 50 years old may adopt a child four years and older. Parents between the ages of 51 and 55 are reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
Marriage Status
Couples married at least one year are welcome to adopt.
Children in Family
Families with children are welcome to adopt from Ghana. The Department of Social Welfare prefers families with fewer children, however, families with five or more children are reviewed on a case-by-case basis.
Income
Families will have a positive net worth and an income of at least $10,000 per family member, including the adopted child.
Travel in Country
Two trips are required. Both parents are strongly encouraged to travel on both trips.
Confirm your eligibility by completing a free no-obligation pre-application:
Actual costs vary due to a variety of issues, including exchange rates and number of people traveling. The following breakdowns provide a typical range of expenses, with an overview of what is included in each category.
Application Fee $300
Initial assessment of your family’s information to assure that all country requirements can be met to complete an adoption in your chosen program.
Home Study Services $1,975
This is the education process where a social worker will partner with your family to help prepare you for the challenges ahead as an adoptive parent. The social worker will also be learning about your family in order to prepare a document for inclusion in the dossier that explains to the courts how you will provide a stable environment and loving family for your child.
AGCI Adoption Services $6,000
Provides staff and services from AGCI throughout the adoption process, and for years to come through the post-adoption phase. Unlike many agencies, AGCI always welcomes your call.
USCIS and Related Fees $805-$890
Filing fees and related costs to file your documents with the United States Citizenship and Immigration Service.
International Fees $5,000 – $6,650
Your dossier is a detailed collection of documents about your family. Many of these have to be notarized, certified, and authenticated. When the dossier is complete, we translate it and facilitate your adoption case in-country through our foreign service providers, the government agencies, and the courts.
Care of Child Fees $4,500
These fees provide care for your child in their birth country. Included is a program fee that supports ongoing orphan care and payment for your child’s medical checkup and HIV/PCR testing.
Travel Costs $6,000-$15,000
Two trips are required to Ghana. Costs include airfare, transportation, food, lodging, a travel visa for you, and an immigrant visa for your child.
Post-Adoption Services $2,500-$3,500
These fees provide for the creation, administration, and translation of your post-adoption reports. Other post-adoption expenses include your re-adoption fee and ongoing medical insurance.
