The Chief Executive of Korle Bu Teaching Hospital, Dr. Yakubu Seidu Adam, has called on Parliament to expedite the passage of legislation on organ harvesting, emphasizing that it would significantly reduce the cost of transplants for patients in Ghana.
Speaking during a visit by members of Parliament’s Health Committee on Wednesday, September 3, 2025, Dr. Seidu Adam explained that the lack of a legal framework currently forces patients to travel abroad for transplants, despite Ghana having specialists qualified to perform such procedures.
“With our own population, if they need a kidney transplant, they have to travel to India, America, or the UK. We have the expertise here to do the work, if only the legislative approval is given,” he stated.
He also highlighted the impact on eye surgeries, particularly cornea transplants. “As eye surgeons, we perform cornea transplants, but we cannot get corneas locally.
We have to import them from America, where the lowest price is between $3,000 and $4,000. If we had the legislation, we could harvest corneas here, and a patient would not spend more than GH₵500,” he explained.
Dr. Adam’s appeal adds to growing pressure on lawmakers to establish a regulatory framework for organ donation and harvesting, which health experts believe would expand access to life-saving procedures while lowering costs for patients.
Source: Adomonline
