Surrogacy in Ghana for Single Men: Legal Process, Real Costs, and What to Expect

Quick Answer

Yes — single heterosexual men can pursue surrogacy in Ghana legally. Ghana's Registration of Births and Deaths Act (Act 1027) establishes a clear legal pathway, including a Pre-Birth Parental Order that names the intended father as the child's legal parent before birth. The process typically takes 12–18 months and costs from $83,000 all-inclusive.

Deciding to become a father on your own is not a small thing. It often comes after years of asking yourself difficult questions — about what family means to you, about what is truly possible, about whether this is the right path. If you have arrived here, you have probably already done a great deal of thinking. You are not looking for inspiration. You are looking for facts: what Ghana allows, how the legal process actually works, what it costs, how long it takes, and what happens when you arrive home with your child.

This guide is written for you — a single heterosexual man considering surrogacy in Ghana who wants a clear, honest picture of the journey ahead. We have tried to answer the questions that matter most, acknowledge the uncertainties that genuinely exist, and give you the information you need to decide whether this path fits your situation.

A Single Man, a Decision, and a Country Called Ghana

Ghana has become one of the few jurisdictions in Africa where surrogacy is formally recognised under national law. For single heterosexual men from many countries — particularly those where domestic surrogacy is unaffordable, legally inaccessible, or unavailable to single applicants — it has emerged as a realistic and relatively well-structured option.

That said, Ghana is not accessible to every intended parent. Understanding who qualifies, how the law works, and what you can realistically expect is essential before making any decisions.

Is Surrogacy in Ghana Right for You? Eligibility at a Glance

Ghana's legal framework does not exclude single men. Heterosexual single men — whether nationals or international — can be legally recognised as parents under Ghanaian law through the Pre-Birth Parental Order process.

You may be eligible if you:

• Are a single heterosexual man aged 18 or over

• Are prepared to use a donor egg (the gestational surrogate does not contribute her own genetic material)

• Can provide your own sperm, or have sperm in storage

• Are able to travel to Ghana twice during the process

• Understand that additional legal steps may be required in your home country after the birth

An important note on same-sex intended parents:

Ghana does not permit surrogacy for gay men or same-sex couples. Same-sex relationships are not legally recognised in Ghana, and this restriction extends to all assisted reproduction arrangements in the country. A peer-reviewed qualitative study published in Reproductive Health (2025) confirmed that gay couples were explicitly excluded from both Ghana's surrogacy research and clinical practice, as same-sex relationships constitute an illegal practice under Ghanaian law. This article focuses exclusively on heterosexual single men because including same-sex intended parents would be legally misleading and potentially harmful.​

If you are a gay single man or part of a same-sex couple, please contact us — we can discuss alternative jurisdictions where surrogacy is legally accessible for LGBTQ+ intended parents.

The Legal Framework: What Act 1027 Means for You

Ghana's primary legal instrument for surrogacy is the Registration of Births and Deaths Act, 2020 (Act 1027). This was the first Ghanaian law to formally recognise surrogacy and to establish a mechanism for registering an intended parent as the child's legal parent.

Under Section 22 of Act 1027, a single intended father can apply to the High Court of Ghana for a Pre-Birth Parental Order — a court order that legally names him as the child's parent before the birth takes place. As a detailed legal analysis of Act 1027 by Lex Mundus & Cencla explains, "without this order, the child will not be acknowledged as that of the intended parents, with the surrogate mother being recognised as the legal mother".​

Key procedural requirements:

• The application must be filed within 12 weeks of the embryo being introduced into the surrogate

• The birth must occur within 28 weeks of the High Court's order being granted

• Upon issuance, copies of the order are distributed to the District Registrar, the intended father, the surrogate, and the hospital of birth

• The District Registrar then registers the child's birth in accordance with the order

What if the Pre-Birth Order is not obtained on time?

A fallback mechanism exists: the Post-Birth Parental Order, which functions similarly to an adoption proceeding and must be applied for between 28 days and six months after birth. While this is a recognised option under Act 1027, it is procedurally more complex and introduces additional uncertainty. Pursuing the Pre-Birth route, with support from qualified Ghanaian legal counsel, is strongly advisable.​

One honest caveat: Act 1027 is a meaningful step forward, but academic experts note it does not yet constitute comprehensive surrogacy legislation. A 2025 peer-reviewed study from the University of Ghana and 37 Military Hospital found that "specific legislation on Assisted Reproductive Technologies and surrogacy is urgently needed to address the uncertainties in the practice, protect the rights of surrogates, and minimise abuse". An Assisted Reproductive Technologies Bill is expected to address remaining gaps. Working with an experienced agency and independent legal counsel helps mitigate the risks that arise from this still-evolving framework.​

Medical Path: IVF, Donor Eggs, and the Hybrid Ukraine–Ghana Model

Surrogacy in Ghana uses gestational surrogacy exclusively — meaning the surrogate does not contribute her own genetic material and has no biological connection to the child. Embryos are created through IVF using donor eggs and the intended father's sperm.

For single men, this means selecting an egg donor as part of the program. Donor profiles typically include physical characteristics, educational background, and health screening results. Caucasian donors are available within certain international programs.

What distinguishes the Delivering Dreams medical approach is the use of a hybrid Ukraine–Ghana model:

• IVF, embryology, and genetic testing are conducted in Ukraine, where reproductive medicine infrastructure and specialist expertise are well established

• The resulting embryos are shipped to Ghana, where the surrogate undergoes preparation, and the embryo transfer takes place

• All prenatal monitoring, delivery, and post-birth documentation occur in Ghana

This structure separates the embryology stage — where precision matters most — from the birth jurisdiction, allowing intended parents to benefit from strong medical standards at the laboratory stage and a clear legal framework at the birth stage. For more on the Ukraine component of the process, see our Ukraine surrogacy program overview.

Genetic testing is included as standard. The program covers PGD-A / NGS-24 testing — preimplantation genetic screening across all 24 chromosomes — which helps identify chromosomally healthy embryos before transfer. Gender selection is also included.

Surrogate screening follows international best practice guidelines for gestational carriers, including medical, psychological, and background evaluation, in line with standards published by medical authorities such as the American Society for Reproductive Medicine (ASRM). (Note: for ASRM guidelines, refer to www.asrm.org.)​

The Timeline: 12–18 Months, Two Trips, One Goal

Most intended fathers complete the Ghana surrogacy process in 12 to 18 months from signing the service agreement to receiving the birth certificate. The main stages are as follows.

Stage 1 — Preparation (Weeks 1–8)

• Sign the service agreement with the agency

• Ship sperm samples to Ukraine (no travel to Ukraine required — logistics managed by the agency)

• Select an egg donor from available profiles

• Donor matching takes place — typically 2 to 4 weeks

Stage 2 — IVF in Ukraine (Weeks 6–14)

• Egg donor stimulation begins

• Egg retrieval, fertilisation via ICSI

• Embryos cultured to blastocyst stage

• PGD-A/NGS-24 genetic testing on embryos

• Qualified embryos frozen and shipped to Ghana

Stage 3 — Embryo transfer in Ghana (Weeks 12–20)

• Surrogate prepares medically in Ghana

• Embryo transfer performed

• Pregnancy confirmed via fetal heartbeat scan

Stage 4 — Pregnancy and legal process (Months 3–9)

• First trip to Ghana: around week 12 of pregnancy (approximately 1 week)
  Purpose: High Court hearing for the Pre-Birth Parental Order; optional in-person meeting with the surrogate (video calls are available throughout)

• Regular progress updates from your dedicated coordinator

• Pregnancy monitored by the clinic in Ghana

Stage 5 — Birth and documentation

• Second trip to Ghana: at birth (plan for several weeks)
  Purpose: be present for the birth; complete birth registration; receive the birth certificate with your name on it

No travel to Ukraine is required at any stage. Sperm shipment and embryo logistics are fully coordinated by the agency.

For a detailed overview of the full process, see how surrogacy works.

Costs Explained: All-Inclusive program vs. Variable Extras

The all-inclusive Ghana program for single men is priced at $83,000. This covers the large majority of costs you will encounter throughout the program.

Included in the $83,000:

• Surrogate matching, oversight, and full surrogate compensation

• All surrogate medical testing, monitoring, ultrasounds, and screenings throughout pregnancy

• Egg donor compensation, testing, and stimulation

• Fresh egg retrieval cycle (IVF with ICSI) in Ukraine

• Embryo cultivation to blastocyst stage

• PGD-A / NGS-24 genetic testing on up to 8 embryos

• 2 embryo transfers included in the program

• Egg donation guarantee

• Gender selection

• Embryo and sperm freezing and storage (12 months in Ghana)

• Natural delivery and surrogate recovery

• Neonatal hospital care (3–5 days)

• Preparation of the child's birth certificate

• All document management, coordination, and communication

Typical additional costs to plan for:

Payments are structured in milestones linked to process stages — from signing through sperm shipment, donor stimulation, embryo transfer, fetal heartbeat confirmation, and pregnancy progression — making the financial commitment incremental rather than a single upfront lump sum.

The core program cost is capped. The main variables are travel, home-country legal processes, and medical complications — which, while uncommon, can occur. We recommend budgeting a contingency of 10–15% above the listed program cost.

For a full breakdown and program comparison, see surrogacy costs and pricing.

Your Child's Birth Certificate and Legal Status in Ghana

Once the Pre-Birth Parental Order is granted by the High Court and the birth is registered, the birth certificate will list you — the intended father — as the child's legal parent. This is the direct outcome of following the Act 1027 legal process correctly. The District Registrar registers the birth in accordance with the court's order, and the agency coordinates the preparation of this document as part of the all-inclusive program.

What Varies by Country / Returning Home: What to Prepare For

Receiving a Ghanaian birth certificate is an important legal milestone — but it is rarely the final step for international intended fathers. What happens when you return home depends heavily on your country of citizenship and residence.

• Some countries (including the United States) have established mechanisms for recognising foreign surrogacy parentage, particularly where a genetic link is demonstrable via DNA test

• Other countries — notably certain EU member states such as the Netherlands — require a domestic adoption procedure, judicial parental recognition, or a court order before the child can be formally registered as yours at home

• Most countries will require the child to be issued a travel document or emergency passport before departure from Ghana; requirements vary by consulate and nationality

What this means in practice:

• Obtain independent legal advice from a family lawyer in your home country before starting the program — not after

• Understand whether your country's authorities accept a Ghanaian birth certificate at face value, or whether additional proceedings are required

• Factor the timeline and cost of home-country legal steps into your overall planning

The agency will advise on what is typically required and can refer you to relevant legal contacts, but cannot provide legal advice on the law of foreign jurisdictions. This is your responsibility to address independently.

For answers to commonly asked questions, visit our FAQ page.

Choosing the Right Agency: Questions Worth Asking

Your agency will coordinate nearly every aspect of the program — from surrogate matching and IVF logistics to legal filings and birth registration. Given this level of involvement, choosing carefully is important.

Questions to ask before you sign with any agency:

• Is the program cost genuinely all-inclusive, or are there commonly incurred costs not listed on the price sheet?

• How is the Pre-Birth Parental Order process managed, and which lawyers handle the Ghanaian legal filings?

• Who will be my coordinator throughout, and how quickly can I reach them?

• What is the protocol if the surrogate requires a Caesarean section?

• How does the agency support intended parents navigating home-country legal requirements?

For details on what Delivering Dreams guarantees and how we handle complications, see our guarantees page.

Free Webinar: The Ghana–Ukraine Hybrid Model Explained

If you want to go deeper before making any decisions, we invite you to join our upcoming free online session.

On 25 March 2026, Delivering Dreams is hosting a live webinar:
"The Ghana–Ukraine Hybrid: A New Standard for Safe & Affordable Surrogacy for Single Men"

In this session, we will walk through:

• Why the hybrid model separates embryo creation (Ukraine) from birth jurisdiction (Ghana) — and why that distinction matters

• How Ghana's Act 1027 and the Pre-Birth Parental Order protect you as a single father

• The full financial picture — what the $83,000 program includes and what variable costs to plan for

• The IVF and genetic testing process, including NGS-24 screening and gender selection

• Real questions from single men who have gone through or are currently in the program

Date: Wednesday, 25 March 2026
Time: 18:00 Berlin (CET) · 13:00 New York (EDT)
Format: Live online · Q&A included · Free to attend

Spaces are limited. To register, contact us at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it.. You are welcome to submit questions in advance — we will do our best to address them during the session.

How Delivering Dreams Supports Single Fathers in Ghana

Delivering Dreams has designed its Ghana program specifically for single heterosexual men seeking to become genetic fathers through gestational surrogacy. The program combines established embryology infrastructure in Ukraine with a legally structured birth process in Ghana.

What you receive as part of the program:

• A dedicated personal coordinator managing all communication, logistics, and document handling throughout

• Surrogate matching within 2 to 4 weeks on average

• Full IVF and embryology management in Ukraine — no travel required

• Pre-Birth Parental Order process coordinated in Ghana (legal fees billed separately at ~€5,000)

• Two embryo transfers included, with PGD-A/NGS-24 genetic screening

• Gender selection included as standard

• Caucasian egg donors available

• Birth certificate preparation included

• Transparent milestone-based payment schedule

The program is priced at $83,000 all-inclusive, with Ghanaian legal fees (~€5,000) and travel costs budgeted separately.

To learn more about how this program works for single men specifically, visit our surrogacy for single men page.

If you have questions — about eligibility, about your specific home country, about what the process would look like for your situation — a free initial consultation costs nothing and commits you to nothing. Our consultants work with single men regularly and understand both the practical questions and the more personal ones that are harder to put into words.

Contact us to schedule a free consultation. There are no wrong questions at this stage.