Accra: Professor Titus Beyuo, the Member of Parliament for Lambussie and a key member of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Health Subsidiary Legislation Committees, has announced significant progress in the legislative process concerning the Bill on Assisted Reproductive Technologies (ART). The bill is expected to be passed into law during the current session of parliament.
According to Ghana News Agency, Prof. Beyuo, who previously served as the General Secretary of the Ghana Medical Association (GMA), shared these insights at the annual general meeting and scientific conference of the Fertility Society of Ghana (FESGO). He emphasized that the Minister of Health is currently concentrating on two crucial legislative documents: the ART bill and the Bill on Organ Donation and Transplant Medicine.
Prof. Beyuo highlighted the extensive efforts that have gone into the ART bill, acknowledging the Fertility Society of Ghana's more than three years of dedicated work on the legislation. Despite the bill not advancing past the cabinet in the previous parliamentary session, he assured that the process is now in its final stages. The remaining steps involve a final round of stakeholder engagement, followed by the preparation of a cabinet brief before its presentation to the cabinet.
He elaborated on the legislative procedure, noting that once the cabinet approves the bill, it will be presented to parliament, where it will be reviewed by the legislative and health committees. Prof. Beyuo urged practitioners to remain persistent, acknowledging that while the delay can be disheartening, the present moment is opportune for action.
Prof. Beyuo also addressed the necessity of establishing a robust legislative framework to safeguard the interests of the public, practitioners, investors, and all stakeholders involved in reproductive technologies. He expressed concern over the gap between advancing medical practices and existing legislation in Ghana.
Highlighting real-world implications, Prof. Beyuo noted the increasing inquiries from individuals seeking to preserve their reproductive materials due to age-related concerns. He underscored the urgency of having a legislative framework to address these issues, as current practices have outpaced legal provisions in Ghana.
