Hon. Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa
Ghana’s parliament may soon see a draft bill on Assisted Reproductive technologies such as surrogacy and In Vitro Fertilization (IVF).
Member of Parliament for North Tongu; Okudzeto Ablakwa says Parliament cannot continue to be quiet on the matter since the practice is in Ghana. He believes all parties involved will be protected if laws are passed on the practice.
The law maker was speaking in an interview on Metro TV.
He explained that there are some countries that prohibit it all together, while other countries allow it on limited humanitarian grounds without commercialization and then other countries allow full commercialization of Assisted Reproduction.
Hon. Ablakwa who is campaigning for such a legislation therefore wants a debate on how the law should look like and the extent to which the practice should be allowed in the country.
He is however of the view that the country should allow surrogacy under limited circumstances and prevent commercialization considering the cultural values of the country.
He said he is not against Assisted Reproductive Technologies as they have come to fill a very important void which a lot of couples globally have faced.
“Parliament has been quiet on the matter for many years. Without laws on the way forward, miscreants and people who want to exploit others can take advantage of the loophole” he explained and cited an example of an instance where a lady was made to carry quadruplets but was exploited and left without payment. “In cases like this, what are her remedies?” he asked.
He revealed that speaker is very interested in this matter and has referred it to the committees of health and constitutional and legal affairs. He says he will be supported by the Parliamentary Legislative Drafting Unit to have the first private Member’s Bill on the matter.
What is Surrogacy?
Surrogacy is an arrangement, often supported by a legal agreement, whereby a woman (the surrogate mother) agrees to become pregnant and give birth to a child for another person(s) who is or will become the parent(s) of the child.
People may seek a surrogacy arrangement when pregnancy is medically impossible, when pregnancy risks are too dangerous for the intended mother, or when a single man or a male couple wish to have a child.
What is IVF?
In vitro fertilization (IVF) is a complex series of procedures used to help with fertility or prevent genetic problems and assist with the conception of a child.
During IVF, mature eggs are collected (retrieved) from ovaries and fertilized by sperm in a lab. Then the fertilized egg (embryo) or eggs (embryos) are transferred to a uterus.
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