Knowledge Bank

In recent decades, Ghana has experienced an orphan crisis, facing increased numbers of youth in children’s homes and residential living. To achieve family reunification for Ghanaian youth, the Department of Social Welfare (DSW) created initiatives in 2010 to investigate and de-emphasize the reliance on children’s homes. Aside from the DSW’s investigations, minimal academic research exists to discuss the operations of Ghana’s children’s homes. Thus, the purpose of this research was to investigate the operations and needs of children’s homes in Ghana. Using a qualitative approach, data were gathered through interviews conducted with staff members of four children’s homes throughout Ghana to gain a staff perspective. The researcher administered a survey that investigated the funding of the children’s homes, the daily duties of the staff members, the interactions with the surrounding community, the daily schedule of the children, and the resources available to the home. The research findings indicate ten themes that emerged concerning the operations and needs of children’s homes in Ghana. Five themes emerged under research question one, which focused on the operations of children’s homes in Ghana. These themes include a lack of funding, education, food, health care, and a sense of familiness. Under research question two, which focused on the needs of children’s homes in Ghana, five themes emerged including inadequate housing, health care, food and water, education, and money. These findings have implications for the DSW, other governmental organizations in Ghana working with child welfare policy, and the international aid community.