want to personally thank Prospera Dzang-Tedam for responding to this need with the project in the Johnsonville area of Ghana, which could also benefit all schools in the country, if implemented. Child Protection in Boarding Schools in Ghana, in my view, should have been conceived and operationalized nationwide a decade ago when it became evident that the girl-child is being challenged with dismal social development indicators (dropout rates, pregnancies and the spread of STD/HIV/AIDS) of the same stereotype/genotype. The need for creative ways in our response to these challenges for optimal development of the future generation, cannot be overlooked. On this note, may I question where Ghana expects to rally its critical mass (women) for social development? ‘Child Protection in Boarding Schools in Ghana: Contemporary Issues, Challenges and Opportunities’ holds the answer – read on.
by Ms Mariama Kuntulo Dauda
(MSSW, Columbia University)
April 2017
PART ONE:Authors, Acknowledgements & Audience
Acknowledgements
We wish to thank the many people and organisations who supported the Sunflower Project during the period of the pilot and evaluation. Our appreciation to the UK-based publishers Kirwin Maclean Associates for taking on this ‘international’ project and working with us to ensure deadlines were met and providing excellent editorial support resulting in this final product.
To our families, friends, colleagues and supporters, we remain grateful for your encouragement, patience and understanding during the time we were working on the project and subsequently on this book.
Particular thanks go to a very special personal friend and sister, Ms Mariama Dauda (United Nations, Darfur) who kindly provided the foreword to this book and also served as a useful and reliable source of debate and discussion throughout the period of the project. Her desire to ensure that useful strategies are embedded into policy to protect children in Ghana resulted in her unflinching financial and emotional support for the project.
To the staff, children and families of the project school, we thank you for believing in us and for working with us to ensure the smooth and successful pilot of this concept. It is hoped that by sharing the details of the Sunflower project and its outcomes, we are creating awareness of the value in having social workers based in schools. In the particular Ghanaian context, we are using this book as a channel to contribute to the dearth in literature about the use of social workers in contributing to the growth and development of children and young people in Ghanaian boarding schools specifically.
Finally, we wish to acknowledge and thank the following organisations who by their support, have validated their understanding of the need to ensure the safety and well-being of all children in Ghanaian boarding schools.
Sory@Law Barristers & Solicitors
Sory@Law was founded in 2013 and is one of the leading law firms in Ghana. Its managing partners Thaddeus Sory Esq, has a profound interest in girl-child education and supported the Sunflower Project during its pilot stage for which we are eternally grateful.
Rhema Systems
Rhema Systems is a Ghanaian company, serving clients with Information Technology solutions in Ghana and beyond.
They are a Systems Integrator and we deliver technology solutions on various technology platforms such as IBM, Oracle, Microsoft, Cisco and EmC, to mention a few. They have delivered projects in Ghana, Senegal, DRC Congo, Nigeria, Liberia, Rwanda, Chad and Gambia.
They have served their clients with solutions in ERP, Data Centre, Budgeting and Financial Management, IT security, Networking and Content Management Solutions.
Their passion for technology drives them to continue to innovate new solutions for their clients, however, they are passionate in supporting social causes such as child protection in boarding schools in Ghana which is a noble project they identify with and support.
Aviela (shea butter cosmetics)
Aviela is a trademark-registered natural beauty brand that was established in January 2008 in the United Kingdom. Their range of products are made with a high concentration of unrefined Shea butter, which is ethically sourced from an association of cooperative women from Guguru in Northern Ghana. All their products are handmade and are aimed at helping people with dry skin and those who suffer from dry skin conditions. The Aviela product range is currently retailed in natural health shops throughout the UK including shops like Wholefoods and Planet Organic.
DeSMAS
Deprived Single Mothers Assistance Scheme (DeSMAS) was registered in 2002 as a local Non-Governmental Organization (NGO) to seek and assist deprived single mothers in distress. DeSMAS has implemented projects that promote the well-being of women and children. DeSMAS is a member of the White Ribbon Alliance for Safe motherhood, Africa Microbicides Advocacy Group (AMAG), Coalition of NGOs in Malaria and Ghana Network of NGOs in HIV/ AIDS (GHANET). Generally, DeSMAS is interested in any project that would aid and liberate women and children in general and deprived single mothers in particular. The organisation also envisages women (whether single mothers or not) who are liberated, confident and economically empowered to independently raise responsible educated children to contribute to the socio-economic development of Ghana and the world.
List of Abbreviations
| ASB | Anti-Social Behaviour |
| C&YP | Children and Young People |
| CP | Child Protection |
| CSM | Cerebro-Spinal Meningitis |
| DSW | Department of Social Welfare |
| ECCD | Early Childhood Development and Care |
| FGM | Female Genital Mutilation |
| GES | Ghana Education Service |
| GEU | Girls Education Unit |
| ILO | International Labour Organisation |
| JHS | Junior High School |
| LEAP | Livelihood Empowerment Against Poverty |
| MDG | Millennium Development Goals |
| MoE | Ministry of Education |
| MoGCSP | Ministry of Gender, Children and Social Protection |
| NDC | National Democratic Congress |
| NEPAD | New Partnership for African Development |
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