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Travel.State.Gov > International Parental Child Abduction > Country Information > Ghana International Parental Child Abduction Information

International Parental Child Abduction

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Travel.State.Gov > International Parental Child Abduction > Country Information > Ghana International Parental Child Abduction Information

Ghana

Ghana
Republic of Ghana
Exercise increased caution in Ghana due to crime and violence against women travelers and lesbian, gay, and bisexual travelers. Some areas of Ghana have increased risk. Read the entire Travel Advisory.

Updated to reflect threats against women travelers and increased risks in specific regions.

Exercise increased caution in Ghana due to crime and violence against women travelers and lesbian, gay, and bisexual travelers.  Some areas of Ghana have increased risk. Read the entire Travel Advisory.

Reconsider Travel to:

  • The Upper East Region, North East Region, Upper West Region, and the western portion of the Savannah Region (all areas west of the N12 Highway) that shares a border with Burkina Faso and Cộte d’Ivoire due to civil unrest and crime.

Country Summary: Violent crimes, such as carjacking, street mugging, assaults, and rape do occur.  These crimes often happen at night and in isolated locations.  Sexual assault, such as rape, is significantly underreported and remains a serious problem.  While domestic violence is criminal under Ghanian law, police rarely respond to reports of domestic violence.  

  • In urban areas and crowded markets
  • When traveling by private or public transportation after dark as criminal elements may use blockades to slow down and restrict movement of vehicles

Ghanaian law contains prohibitions on “unnatural carnal knowledge” – generally interpreted as any kind of sexual intimacy – between persons of the same sex, though in practice, the law is largely used to target men.  Punishments can include fines and/or incarceration of up to three years.  Rhetoric and violence targeting individuals on the basis of sexual orientation have increased in recent years.  Individuals have reported safety incidents that include targeted assault, rape, mob attacks, and harassment due to their sexual orientation.

Read the country information page for additional information on travel to Ghana.

If you decide to travel to Ghana:

Areas Near the Northern Border in the Upper East Region, Upper West Region, and western area of the Savannah Region – Level 3:  Reconsider Travel

U.S. citizens in Ghana should reconsider travel to the northern border areas near Burkina Faso and Côte d’Ivoire due to civil unrest and crime.  Due to the risks, U.S. government employees working in Ghana must obtain special authorization to travel to the Upper West Region, the Upper East Region, the North East Region, and the western area of the Savannah Region.  The U.S. government has limited ability to provide emergency services to U.S. citizens in these areas.  Be sure to read the Burkina Faso Travel Advisory here.

Local police may lack the resources to respond effectively to more serious crimes.

Visit our website for Travel to High-Risk Areas.

... [READ MORE]

Hague Convention Participation

Party to the Hague Abduction Convention?
No
U.S. Treaty Partner under the Hague Abduction Convention?
No
Learn why the Hague Abduction Convention Matters.

What You Can Do

Learn how to respond to abductions FROM the US
Learn how to respond to abductions TO the US
ALL / ALL /

U.S. Embassy Accra

No. 24 Fourth Circular Road,
Cantonments, Accra
Ghana
Telephone: +233-(0)30-274-1000
Emergency After-Hours Telephone: +233-(0)30-274-1000
Email: 

For information concerning travel to Ghana, including information about the location of the U.S. Embassy, the Smart Traveler Enrollment Program, entry/exit requirements, safety and security, crime, medical facilities and health information, traffic safety, road conditions and aviation safety, please see country-specific information for Ghana.

The U.S. Department of State reports statistics and compliance information for individual countries in the Annual Report on International Child Abduction. The report is located here. 

Ghana is not a signatory to the 1980 Hague Convention on the Civil Aspects of International Child Abduction (Hague Abduction Convention), nor are there any bilateral agreements in force between Ghana and the United States concerning international parental child abduction.

Legal systems and laws pertaining to custody, divorce, and parental abduction vary widely from country to country.  Parents are encouraged to consult with an attorney who specializes in family law in Ghana and who can provide accurate legal guidance that is specific to their circumstances. 

The Department of State’s Bureau of Consular Affairs, Directorate for Overseas Citizens Services, Office of Children’s Issues provides assistance in cases of international parental child abduction.  For U.S. citizen parents whose children have been wrongfully removed to or retained in countries that are not U.S. partners under the Hague Abduction Convention, the Office of Children’s Issues can provide information and resources about country-specific options for pursuing the return of or access to an abducted child.  The Office of Children’s Issues may also coordinate with appropriate foreign and U.S. government authorities about the welfare of abducted U.S. citizen children.  Parents are strongly encouraged to contact the Department of State for assistance.

Contact information:

U.S. Department of State
Bureau of Consular Affairs
Office of Children's
CA/OCS/CI
SA-17, 9th Floor
Washington, DC 20522-1709
Website: Childabduction.state.gov
Email: AfricaIPCA@state.gov

Parental child abduction is a criminal offense in Ghana.  The Children’s Act of 1998 makes removal of a child from a person who has legal custody an offense with possible fines or imprisonment.  Links to Ghanaian law regarding children are available at the Minister of Gender, Children and Social Protection.

The Children’s Act 1998 

Parents may wish to consult with an attorney in the United States and in the country to which the child has been removed or retained to learn more about how filing criminal charges may impact a custody case in the foreign court.  Please see Possible Solutions - Pressing Criminal Charges for more information. 

Legal systems and laws pertaining to custody, divorce, and parental abduction vary widely from country to country.  Parents are encouraged to consult with an attorney who specializes in family law in Ghana and who can provide accurate legal guidance that is specific to their circumstances.

The Office of Children’s Issues may be able to assist parents seeking access to children who have been wrongfully removed from or retained outside the United States.  Parents who are seeking access to children who were not wrongfully removed from or retained outside the United States should contact the appropriate U.S. Embassy in Ghana for information and possible assistance.

Neither the Office of Children’s Issues nor consular officials at the U.S. Embassy in Ghana are authorized to provide legal advice.

The U.S. Embassy in Accra, Ghana, posts a list of attorneys, including those who specialize in family law.

This list is provided as a courtesy service only and does not constitute an endorsement of any individual attorney. The Department of State assumes no responsibility or liability for the professional ability or reputation of, or the quality of services provided by, the persons or firms included in this list. Professional credentials and areas of expertise are provided directly by the lawyers.

Mediation is becoming a common practice to settle custody disputes in Ghana and courts will refer cases for mediation to the Department of Social Welfare to work with the families.

Exercising Custody Rights

While travelling in a foreign country, you are subject to the laws of that country. It is important for parents to understand that, although a left-behind parent in the United States may have custody or visitation rights pursuant to a U.S. custody order, that order may not be valid and enforceable in the country in which the child is located.  For this reason, we strongly encourage you to speak to a local attorney if planning to remove a child from a foreign country without the consent of the other parent.  Attempts to remove your child to the United States may:

  • Endanger your child and others;
  • Prejudice any future judicial efforts; and
  • Could result in your arrest and imprisonment.

The U.S. government cannot interfere with another country’s court or law enforcement system.

To understand the legal effect of a U.S. order in a foreign country, a parent should consult with a local attorney in the country in which the child is located.  

For information about hiring an attorney abroad, see our section on Retaining a Foreign Attorney. 

Although we cannot recommend an attorney to you, most U.S. Embassies have lists of attorneys available online. Please visit the local U.S. Embassy or Consulate website for a full listing.

For more information on consular assistance for U.S. citizens arrested abroad, please see our website.

Country officers are available to speak with you Monday - Friday, 8:00 a.m. - 5:00 p.m.  For assistance with an abduction in progress or any emergency situation that occurs after normal business hours, on weekends, or federal holidays, please call toll free at 1-888-407-4747. See all contact information.

DISCLAIMER: The information in this flyer is provided for general information only, is not intended to be legal advice, and may change without notice. Questions involving interpretation of law should be addressed to an attorney licensed in the relevant jurisdiction. 

 

Last Updated: February 3, 2021

Assistance for U.S. Citizens

U.S. Embassy Accra
No. 24 Fourth Circular Road,
Cantonments, Accra,
Ghana
Telephone
+233-(0)30-274-1000
Emergency
+233-(0)30-274-1000
Fax
No Fax
Email
ConsularAccra@state.gov
Website
https://gh.usembassy.gov/

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