Lawyer Breaks Down Ghana’s DNA Testing Gap

Private legal practitioner, Lawyer Godlove Adjei, has shed light on the growing demand for DNA and paternity testing in Ghana, explaining the legal framework, cultural shifts, and reasons behind its rising prominence.

Speaking in an interview, he noted that DNA testing was rare in the past because “people trusted themselves,” and the procedure was extremely expensive. He explained that Ghana previously lacked local facilities, forcing individuals to travel abroad for tests, which discouraged many from seeking paternity clarification.

According to him, Ghana still has no specific legislation regulating DNA or paternity testing. As a result, decisions on whether DNA tests should be conducted are “largely left to the discretion of the judiciary.”

Lawyer Adjei outlined the circumstances that typically prompt individuals to pursue a DNA test. “A person may have doubts about a child’s paternity, whether the man is alive or deceased,” he said. “Sometimes, a blood mismatch between a child and a man raises questions.” He added that women rarely face such concerns because maternity is biologically certain.

He further clarified the legal definitions of fatherhood in Ghana. “Under the law, naming a child makes a man the father of that child. Also, once a man adopts a child, he becomes the legal father,” he stated.

Citing the Evidence Act, he noted that the law presumes that a child born within a union between a man and a woman is the child of the man. However, this presumption can be overturned if credible evidence proves otherwise. “If someone brings evidence, such as blood grouping or the man’s own firm belief that he is not responsible, then the paternity must be determined,” he said.

In such situations, a DNA test becomes one of the most reliable tools for establishing the truth.

Lawyer Adjei emphasized that as trust issues grow and accessibility improves, DNA testing will continue to play a significant role in resolving paternity disputes in Ghana.