Why Ghana should consider mandatory DNA testing at birth: A public health and societal imperative

I therefore call for a national dialogue involving the Government of Ghana, Parliament, the Ministry of Health, the Ministry of Justice and Attorney-General's Department, the Ghana Health Service, healthcare professionals, geneticists, public health experts, ethicists, legal practitioners, civil society organizations, and other relevant stakeholders to critically examine the feasibility, benefits, risks, and ethical implications of mandatory DNA testing at birth.

A well-designed national DNA-at-birth programme could also contribute to the development of a more comprehensive understanding of genetic and hereditary health conditions within the Ghanaian population.

I strongly advocate for the introduction of a national policy in Ghana to make DNA testing mandatory at birth for all newborns, subject to appropriate ethical, legal, and data-protection safeguards.