CHILD RIGHTS PROTECTION: AN ASSESSMENT OF THE CAPACITY OF THE DEPARTMENT OF SOCIAL WELFARE IN THE UPPER WEST REGION, GHANA

Abstract

ChildrightsviolationshavebecomeamajorissueintheUpperWestRegionwhichrequires the attention of the Department of Social Welfare (DSW). Notwithstanding this, the Department is not adequately resourced to work in the best interest of children as required by the Children's Act, Act 560 (1998). The Specific objectives of the study are to: assess theDepartment of Social Welfareservice deliveryinchildrightsprotection, investigatethe complementary role played by state institutions for the protection of children rights and to examine the resourcefulness of the Department of Social Welfare in their quest to protect therights of children intheUpper West Region. Forthisinvestigation, variedmethodology was used which includes; semi-structured and structured interview guides. The study captured selected participants from the Department of Social Welfare, Department of Children, Commission on Human Rights and Administrative Justice and the Domestic Violence and Victims Support Unit. The findings of the study include; limited capacity of the Department of Social Welfare in implementing child welfare policies, low level of collaboration between the Department and other state child protection institutions, inadequate resources in terms of trained personnel and finances, no further skills training for trained personnel specifically on child protection, among others. Based on the findings of this study, it was recommended that, state child protection institutions should focus on their core mandate. Again, the DSW can accomplish its mandate if qualified personnel are engaged in full complement to man the district offices across the region and be adequately resourced financially to perform its function. The Department's mandate is still relevant in contemporary times as children are becoming more vulnerable in a fast globalizing world and deserve better and more protective arrangements than before from the Department of Social Welfare.