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African Social Services in Peril

A Study of the Department of Social Welfare in Ghana under the Highly Indebted Poor Countries Initiative

University of Sheffield, England, s.laird{at}sheffield.ac.uk

• Summary: Using Ghana as an illustrative case study, this article examines the ideology and intentions which underpin the Poverty Reduction Strategy Paper required for approval by the IMF and World Bank to qualify for debt relief under the Highly Indebted Poor Countries initiative. This article critically examines the functions assigned to governmental and non-governmental agencies within the social sector generally and the Department of Social Welfare specifically. Conditions at the Department of Social Welfare are explored through data gathered from semi-structured interviews with frontline social workers. These document the day-to-day realities of social work practice in Ghana and the relationship of the Department of Social Welfare with the non-governmental sector in the delivery of welfare services.

• Findings: Social workers at the Department of Social Welfare report chronic under-funding which undermines even the most rudimentary activities. They also describe difficulties in holding NGOs to account due to the lack of logistical support and the inability to enforce compliance with statutory requirements.

• Applications : Across the sub-Saharan region are government departments responsible for the delivery of social services and operating within the social policy frameworks created by the Poverty Reduction Strategy Papers required for debt relief. Evidence produced by this case study has implications for similar sub-Saharan countries implementing a social policy based on the neoliberal precepts if the New Policy Agenda.

Key Words: Africa • NGOs • social development • social policy • social work

Journal of Social Work, Vol. 8, No. 4, 377-398 (2008)
DOI: 10.1177/1468017308094991


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