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Ghana’s child panels: effective child protection and juvenile justice system or superfluous creation?
Publication Date
2019-12
End of Embargo
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© The Author(s) 2019. Published by Oxford University Press on behalf of The British Association of Social Workers. All rights reserved. Reproduced in accordance with the publisher's self-archiving policy.
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Yes
Open Access status
Accepted for publication
2019-02-01
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Abstract
In accordance with the United Nations’ requirements for dealing with juvenile offenders, Ghana’s Children Act 1998 mandated local authorities to establish child panels to mediate minor offences committed by children. However, to date there has not been any research that has examined the functioning and effectiveness of the child panels. This research examined the operationalisation and effectiveness of child panels in Ghana. The study involved the use of semi-structured interviews and focus group discussions with panel members of four local authorities. Findings showed that the child panels are not functioning effectively in Ghana. The relevance of the child panels has been questioned since it was found to be duplicating the roles of some other child welfare agencies. This article discusses the challenges impeding the effectiveness of the child panels and outlines recommendations to improve their effectiveness.
Version
Accepted Manuscript
Citation
Adu-Gyamfi, J (2019) Ghana's child panels: effective child protection and juvenile justice system or superfluous creation? The British Journal of Social Work. 49(8): 2059-2072.
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Article