Re: Catholic Bishops conference condemns sale of sperms in Ghana

The attention of the management of the Association of Childless Couples of Ghana (ACCOG), a Non-faith based Non-Governmental Organisation established last year to help address the childlessness/infertility situation in Ghana and beyond which is a member of African Infertility Alliance (AIA) under International Consumer Support for Infertility (iCSi) has been drawn to a publication with the heading above and the subsequent discussions on some radio stations regarding the subject matter.

ACCOG seeks to provide a platform for childless couples to enjoy the benefits of marriage and facilitate their access to other options of having children, including adoption and to provide counseling and other support services to those divorced as a result of childlessness to enable them cope with their situation. Our activities also include providing counseling and other support services on Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ARTs - IVF, ICSI & IUI). The vision for the International Consumer Support for Infertility (iCSi), a network of patient leaders from various countries in the world, is ‘to empower patients to become full partners in ART healthcare and public policy by building effective relationships with providers, governments and media world-wide’. iCSi coalition members act as a national voice in their respective countries to bring the needs of people who benefit from ART to public awareness.

In the said publication, Madam Mercy Adjabeng, Public Relation Officer for the Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection says the “Ministry has already begun consultations to begin a national dialogue on the phenomenon” and that the said dialogue will take place this year. Since the publication has made us begin the debate, our article seeks to add our voice to the debate by bringing up certain issues to enable all of us discuss the topic holistically and dispassionately and not to condemn our dear Bishops.

1. 1. We are inclined to believe that the Catholic Bishops Conference is against the “sale” aspect of donor gametes (donor sperms & eggs) and not the godly act of trying to help your fellow human being with any part of your body through donation. People give or safe the life of others by donating various parts of their body (blood, kidney etc).



2. 2. If our medical personnel have screened blood of any diseases over the years and have done successful transfusions, then we are confident that “transfusions” involving donor gametes will not be different. Again, it is important to point out that sperms do not contain HIV but the seamen.



3. 3. The stigma on childlessness in our part of the world make people do everything possible mostly using unorthodox means to get a child/ren. Some go outside their matrimonial homes to have children with their resultant risk to sexually transmitted diseases including HIV/AIDS. Some die or take their life as a result of childlessness. Just yesterday September 11, 2013, another publication with the heading “Man commits suicide over wife’s confession” spoke about one Benjamin Kwaku Owusu, a 40-year-old former Manager of Unity Oil Filling Station in Suhum, who had committed suicide by drinking DDT Gamullio 20 insecticide because his wife told him the pregnancy she was carrying was not his after five (5) years of marriage. Mr. Owusu’s life could have been saved if he had received thorough counseling and taken advantage of ARTs including relying on donor sperm. Male infertility was found by the Family Health Division of the Ghana Health Service to be a growing phenomenon in the country especially in the Upper East Region in the year 2003.



4. 4. Childlessness sometimes leads to divorce which brings difficulties to the parties, especially women. According to the good book, “God hates divorce”. Again, from our research, the Bible is silent on ARTs. Therefore, we believe if there’s something that can be done to sustain childless marriages like taking advantage of ARTs, then it is better than letting the marriage collapse.

5. By asking or directing childless persons to seek medical treatment, you are in fact saying that they should take advantage of science and all the benefits that come with it which include ARTs.

While acknowledging that ARTs come with medical, legal, ethical, social, emotional and psychological aspects, care must be taken in discussing the subject matter. ACCOG believes the time has come for Ghanaians to have a departure from our old ways of thinking and addressing the issue of Childlessness/infertility and embrace all the benefits that come with science.

Thank you.

Nana Yaw Osei

Chief Executive Officer, ACCOG

accoggh@yahoo.com