Social Work in Ghana: A Participatory Action Research Project Looking at Culturally Appropriate Training and Practice

Social work emerged in the western world, particularly in the USA and the United Kingdom, at the turn of the twentieth century. Western social welfare systems were introduced to other countries through the colonial empires of the nineteenth and twentieth centuries and social work training reflected these systems. However, many of these countries have revised their curricula to make them more culturally appropriate while others are still in this process. This article highlights issues concerning social work education and training in Ghana, West Africa through a Participatory Action Research project. Themes emerging concerning the present curriculum, the professional association and social work in Ghana are presented. Action plans instigated from this project are described, ending with a future challenge for social work in Africa.