Ghana’s Organ Donation Law: A Step Towards Affordable Transplants, Says Korle Bu CEO, GH reacts
- Dr Yakubu Seidu Adam urged Parliament to approve the organ donation law, emphasising affordability and accessibility
- He argued that the lack of legislation has forced Ghanaians to travel abroad for kidney and cornea transplants, increasing costs
- Ghanaians reacting on X expressed concern that the proposed law could potentially lead to a rise in kidnappings
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Dr Yakubu Seidu Adam, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, has lobbied for the passing of a law to regulate organ donation and harvesting in Ghana.
Source: Twitter
Dr Seidu Adam reiterated the urgent need while addressing members of the Health Committee during a visit to the hospital on September 3, 2025.
He urged the Parliamentary Health Committee to fast-track the approval of the law, as he believes that such a piece of legislation in place will make organ transplants easily accessible and affordable for patients in the country.
According to him, without clear regulations, many Ghanaians in need of organ transplants are forced to travel abroad for treatment, even though there are actively trained medical professionals in Ghana who can perform similar procedures.
He also highlighted the high cost that comes with purchasing organs abroad, ranging from $1,000 to $3,000. Creating a legal framework would not only help regulate organ donations but also lower the cost of these critical procedures, he said.
Source: UGC
His request comes as pressure builds on lawmakers to create a legal system that would make organ transplants more accessible and less expensive, benefiting those in urgent need of life-saving treatments.
In his words:
“With our own population, if they need a kidney transplant, they have to travel to America, the UK, or India. We have the men here to do the work, if only the legislative approval is given."
Dr Seidu Adam, also pointed out that the lack of a law on organ donation is impacting eye surgeries in the country. Because there is no legal framework for organ harvesting, the hospital is unable to source corneas for patients in need of sight-restoring surgeries within Ghana.
This means that many people who require corneal transplants have to look for donors abroad, further increasing the cost and delay in receiving the much-needed treatment.
He added:
“We, as eye surgeons, perform cornea transplants, yet we cannot get corneas here. We have to import them from America, where the lowest price is around $3,000 to $4,000. If we have the legislation, we can harvest corneas here, and someone who needs such a transplant will not spend more than GHC500.”
During a conversation with YEN.com.gh, Dr. Akosua Mirekua Boadu, a Public Health Policy Consultant based in Nigeria, commented saying:
"The absence of a legal framework for organ harvesting doesn't just delay life-saving surgeries—it erodes the trust that must exist between medical institutions and the public. Legislation is essential to protect both donors and recipients, and it must come with public education to dispel fears around kidnapping."
Watch the video of his speech below:
Reactions to lobbying for organ harvesting law
YEN.com.gh collected reactions from Ghanaians on X. Most people expressed their concern over the likelihood of unethical medical practices shooting up if the law is passed.
Some even warned that kidnappings may rise once such a piece of legislation is approved.
Some of the comments are below.
@DiamondsKweku wrote:
"I’m sorry, but it’s not a good idea. With our senior men around here. Abeg no try am."
@pastor_mensah said:
"Kidnapping is going to rise if this kind of law is passed!!! We shouldn't entertain such MEDIOCRITIES at all in Ghana."
@stretchdom commented:
"So who will benefit, the rich or wicked politicians like Ken. If your time's up, adios.. We're all gone anyway."
@Honourable_12 said:
"We don't want any kidnapping cases bia. 😂😂"
Korle Bu strike allegedly causes patient's death
YEN.com.gh had earlier reported that midwife Sa-ada Sadique refuted claims that a patient died at Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, particularly because of an ongoing strike, leaving a patient unattended.
Sadique clarified that Korle Bu is a referral hospital, not a walk-in emergency centre, which only accepts special cases from other facilities.
Ghanaians reacted to the controversy, sharing personal experiences, which created a platform to debate more about the hospital's policies.
Proofreading by Samuel Gitonga, copy editor at YEN.com.gh.
Source: YEN.com.gh
