How to get custody of a newborn child who loves on a refugee camp in ghana africa with his mother my friend?

Question

A friend of mine who lives on a refugee camp in Ghana wants to give me custody of her newborn child. She doesn't know whom the father is. And she and I are not sure of where to begin the process of granting sole custody or adoption whichever is easier to my husband and I. We are both us citizens and we would more than love to raise this child as our own since we are unable to have any children. Is there anyone familiar with this type of situation and who can tell us step by step what to do to complete this process asap.

Answer 1

Wow.  Some friend you are.

Let me guess, you just so happened to be infertile, too?

Answer 2

I saw a story like this on Oprah.  You will probably need to begin by contacting the State Department.  In the mean time, do research on Adoption Laws in Ghana.  You will need to get your home inspection done, so get your home ready and get the inspection scheduled right away.  The process is going to take several months, so be prepared for that.  

I have to say, that by the time everything is ready to go, the mother may have changed her mind.  Please, please, do not pressure her if she starts to change her mind.  There are many, many African orphans that you could still adopt.

Answer 3

This link has adoption procedures for all countries that permit any form of international adoption.  Check it out.

http://travel.state.gov/family/adoption/...  

  

For the person who suggested that she sponsor her friend, I thought that only a blood relative may sponsor a person to come permanently to the US, and then there is a very lenghthy wait.  This is what BCIS told my friend who wanted to sponsor his brother to come.

Also for everyone who suggested she is a bad friend for not helping mother and child  stay together:  she clearly states that the mother wishes to give up custody of the child.  Wouldn't it be better for the child to be raised by adoptive parents who want the child, than a birth mother who does not want the child?

Answer 4

I don't want to sound rude, but wouldn't a friend help a friend rather than 'help themselves' - to her baby

Please help mother and baby stay together - aren't the child's best interests paramount.  How is being separated from her mother in her best interests, they will both be grieving the loss of each other and you think that's ok because you want a child

Answer 5

am from Ghana tell me more about it and maybe l could help you.thnx

Answer 6

your "friend" is in a refugee camp and to help you want to take her baby because you can't have one? WHY AREN'T YOU TRYING TO HELP HER???? SOME FRIEND.

like they always say..... with friends like you, who needs enemies?

Answer 7

You need to find an agency HERE in the U.S. that deals with adoptions in Ghana. Don't try to do it alone.  Adoption is not simply a mother handing over a child, but it is knee deep in legal issues, paperwork, immigration issues - if you want it to go smoothly without problems, you're going to have to start doing some research and legwork AND think about going to Ghana.  

Contact an agency and see what they say.

Warning : The process might take months.

Answer 8

Why can't you sponsor the mother to come over to the US - and look after both her and her child??

What's best for the baby is to stay with his/her mother.

I'm sorry you can't have your own children - but taking another from a mother that with some help could most likely be a good mother is a little rough on the mother and on the child.

Read up on effects of separation on the child. It's not great on one's psyche.

I know - I'm an adoptee.

To read about the effects on mother's who relinquish - read these blogs -

http://www.adultadoptees.org/forum/index...

To read about the effects on adoptees - read these blogs -

http://www.adultadoptees.org/forum/index...

If this is your friend - I'm thinking that you really want to help both her and her child out - so that's why I have given this advice to you.

It's in the best interest of the child - and the mother.

Answer 9

I want to be a little kinder to you. Is there a reason that she can't immigrate to the United States?

Answer 10

i do agree that sponsoring her might be a better situation.  it's clear that her decision to place her baby is due to her reality of poverty in ghana; and her presumed inability to provide adequately for this child.

by sponsoring her, she might be able to overcome those barriers and parent her child.  boy, what would that do for your friendship???

i wonder if her decision would change, if she were given the help and resources to help her overcome the barriers which make parenting difficult.

i do have to agree (and mean no malice in my statement) that your infertility--albeit unfortunate--should not be the sole motivation for your assistance.  

be well.

re: sponsorship... i do know of cases where non-family sponsored a refugee. it's different then sponsoring a non-citizen who merely wants to come into the country.