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Introduction The extradition of Abu Trica from Ghana to the United States has generated enormous media attention in Ghana. Hardly a newspaper, radio station, television network, or online news platfo

A Disturbing Reality One only needs to read local newspapers or browse Ghana-based online news platforms to appreciate the disturbing frequency of child abuse cases occurring in homes across the coun

Ghanaian society traditionally values respect for the elderly. Older people are regarded as repositories of wisdom, custodians of tradition, and moral anchors of the family. Yet beneath this ideal lies a troubling reality: many elderly persons in Ghana experience neglect, abuse, and profound social

Every year, thousands of children in Ghana suffer abuse at the hands of those entrusted with their care—parents, guardians, and relatives. Reports of battered, neglected, and traumatized children frequently appear in the Ghanaian mass media, often accompanied by disturbing images and heartbreaking d

In Ghana, there exists a long-standing practice in which some parents send their children to live with other families as househelps. While this arrangement is often justified as a strategy for providing children with better opportunities, it has, in many cases, become a source of profound exploitati

Irresponsible alcohol consumption has become a growing social problem in Ghana, with serious consequences for individuals, families, and communities. Some drinkers spend a large proportion of their income on alcohol, leaving little or nothing for basic necessities such as food, clothing, rent, medic

Long before colonial stadium lights and organised leagues, the sandy shores and village squares of the Gold Coast—today’s Ghana—were vibrant arenas where traditional wrestling was among the most respected cultural practices. From the early 19th century up to the turn of the 20th century, indigenous

When Two Elephants Fight, the Earth Underneath Suffers Marriage is ideally meant to be a source of companionship, love, and emotional security between husband and wife. Yet in Ghana, as in many societies across the world, the promise of marital bliss is too often shattered by domestic violence, part

The Institution of Chop Money Chop money is oftentimes a source of conflict between Ghanaian husbands and their wives. Some of such conflicts result in verbal assaults, verbal disagreements, physical

Ghana stands for “God Has Anointed the Nation Already.” Many Ghanaians see their country not merely as a geographical territory in West Africa, but as a land endowed with immense natural, human, and spiritual blessings. From abundant mineral wealth to fertile agricultural lands and a vibrant populat

In many Ghanaian communities, accusations of witchcraft generate intense moral outrage and social hostility. Persons believed to be malevolent witches are frequently subjected to verbal abuse, physical assault, forced displacement, and, in extreme cases, extrajudicial killing (Adinkrah, 2004, 2015).

The article explores the notion that the devil causes people to commit deviant and criminal acts

A description of a major Akan cultural ceremony to honor women for prolific childbearing

The article explains why the star in Ghana's flag is black, instead of white, silver or golden

Ghana is a country with a rich and vibrant cultural heritage. Long before the arrival of Europeans, the people who inhabited the territory now known as Ghana had developed sophisticated political syst

The Neglect of Crime Victims For many decades, the study of crime was largely concerned with offenders. Criminologists focused their attention on criminals, criminal behavior, and the causes of crime

Introduction A society is often judged not by how it treats its rich, powerful, and influential citizens, but by how it treats its weakest and most vulnerable members. Children, the elderly, and pers

Introduction Lethal violence is a starkly gendered phenomenon. Globally, men are overwhelmingly the primary victims and perpetrators of homicide, typically driven by street crime, gang rivalries, and

Introduction In today's world, research has become an important part of national development. Governments, universities, hospitals, non-governmental organizations (NGOs), and international agencies r

Introduction Among Ghana’s sixteen administrative regions, few can rival the Western Region in terms of natural wealth, cultural diversity, economic importance, and historical significance. Stretchin

Introduction For decades, African leaders have boarded planes to Europe, North America, Asia, and the Middle East in search of foreign aid. Every year, countless international conferences, donor meet

Introduction The Akan have a wise saying: "If you plant plantain, you will harvest plantain; if you plant cassava, you will harvest cassava; and if you plant pineapples, you will harvest pineapples."

Introduction Every year, as Easter approaches, a familiar phrase echoes across Ghana's radio stations, television screens, and social media platforms: "Kwahu oooo Kwahu!" The expression has become bo

Conspicuous Consumption and the Funeral Arena The term “conspicuous consumption” was coined by the American economist and sociologist Thorstein Veblen in his classic work The Theory of the Leisure Cl

In Akan society in Ghana, a chief occupies a revered and sacred position. He is the custodian of the land, the representative of the ancestors, and the moral leader of the community. The stool symboli

A feature article from the Road to World Cup 2026 countdown series

Vultures Were A Once Familiar Presence in Ghana’s Skies About fifty years ago, vultures were a common sight across Ghana. One could hardly walk a short distance without encountering them. They perche

Asamoah Gyan — Beyond the 2010 Penalty There is another layer to Gyan’s ordeal that many people overlook. After the 2010 World Cup heartbreak, he again missed a crucial penalty during the 2012 Afric

An observable feature of Ghanaian social life is a recurring tendency toward silence in moments that might otherwise call for resistance or confrontation. Even when individuals experience clear forms of mistreatment, there is often a strong social and cultural pull toward restraint rather than actio

“Reparation” as an idea or concept refers to the act of making amends for a wrong or injury—especially by providing compensation, restitution, or other forms of redress to those who have been harmed. In its simplest sense, reparation means “repairing the damage” caused by an injustice. In more forma

Men and boys are frequently victims of homicide, yet discussions of lethal violence often overlook the specific contexts in which they are targeted. Scholars of homicide and lethal violence have developed a range of terms to describe killings based on the relationship between victim and offender, as

Introduction: The Hidden Face of Family ViolenceHomicide refers to the killing of one person by another, and within this broad category lies a deeply troubling subset known as family homicide, which involves the killing of one family member by another. Although the family is often idealized as a hav

Robert Mensah: A Football Story and Tragedy in the Ghanaian Football In the annals of Ghanaian sporting history, few names evoke as much reverence, myth, and sorrow as Robert Mensah. His story is not merely about football; it is a narrative woven into the socio-cultural fabric of late colonial Gold

Kente cloth is one of the most famous traditional textiles of West Africa and is strongly associated with Ghana. It is a handwoven cloth made from narrow strips of silk or cotton that are stitched together to form a larger fabric. The cloth is distinguished by its brilliant colors, geometric pattern

A Historic Emblem of Independence The Ghana national flag is more than a piece of cloth fluttering in the wind; it is a powerful symbol of the country’s history, aspirations, and identity. First officially adopted on March 6, 1957—the same day Ghana became the first African nation to gain independen

The qualification of the Ghana national football team — popularly known as the Black Stars — for the 2006 FIFA World Cup stands as one of the most transformative milestones in Ghana’s sporting and national history. It was not merely a football achievement; it was the culmination of decades of ambiti

Recent reports in the Ghanaian media have once again drawn attention to a disturbing and persistent problem: the murder, attempted murder, and lynching of women accused of practicing witchcraft. These incidents are often shocking in their brutality and tragic in their consequences. They also raise a

Violence against persons accused of witchcraft remains a troubling reality in parts of Ghana. Although our nation prides itself on hospitality, communal solidarity, and deep respect for human dignity, allegations of witchcraft too often trigger acts of cruelty that contradict these cherished values.

Children and the Future of the Nation Children are the future of every society. When a nation fails to nurture and guide its children properly, it mortgages its own future. Ghana today faces a troubling situation: unless deliberate efforts are made to mould children into disciplined, responsible, an

Imprisonment, also known as incarceration, is one of the most severe penalties imposed by courts in Ghana and elsewhere. Judges and magistrates have several sentencing options at their disposal, including fines, probation, community service, and custodial sentences. Prison is usually reserved for pe

Life on the Streets: A Visible Social Failure On the streets of Ghana, many people living with mental illness wander without care, shelter, or dignity. Some are dressed in dirty, tattered clothing; others are barely clothed, and a few are completely naked. Their presence is a visible reminder of a d

Rape and sexual assault are among the most serious crimes in Ghana, leaving victims with profound physical, emotional, and psychological scars. Despite public awareness campaigns and media reporting, sexual violence continues to occur in society, highlighting the urgent need for vigilance, education

Widespread Beliefs in GhostsAlthough no large-scale self-report study has been conducted on belief in ghosts in Ghana, it is fair to say that belief in ghosts or apparitions is widespread across the country. These beliefs are especially strong among the Akan of southern Ghana, where ideas about deat

Punishment is a central feature of every organized society, including Ghana. While rewards are designed to encourage conformity and socially approved behavior, punishment exists to negatively sanction deviant behavior. When individuals act in ways that align with societal norms, they are often rewar

Cohabitation refers to an intimate arrangement in which a man and a woman live together in a shared residence without being formally married. While cohabitation has become increasingly common in many contemporary societies, it is generally frowned upon in Akan society and regarded as socially improp

Sociologists use the term ableism to describe prejudice, discrimination, and social exclusion directed against persons with disabilities. The terms ablism and disablism are also used in the scholarly literature to refer to the same phenomenon, namely, the systematic disadvantaging of people whose bo

No one is born with knowledge. Human beings are born with the capacity to learn, but what they eventually know—how they speak, think, behave, believe, and interpret the world—is acquired from society. Knowledge, values, attitudes, and skills are socially produced and socially transmitted. By the tim

Children are the future of every society. Yet Ghana faces a serious challenge if urgent steps are not taken to ensure that today’s children are properly guided and nurtured to grow into law-abiding and responsible citizens. In recent years, there has been a noticeable increase in juvenile delinquenc

Some call it mob justice. Others describe it as instant justice or vigilante justice. But where, indeed, is the justice when a person is beaten, maimed, or killed without a proper trial or lawful conviction by the legally constituted justice system of the land? Every year in Ghana, scores of individ

Witchcraft is commonly understood in Ghana as a supernatural power believed to be possessed by some individuals, enabling them to influence the behavior, health, fortune, or misfortune of others—either as victims or beneficiaries. Belief in witchcraft and witches remains widespread and deeply embedd

Newspapers occupy an important place in Ghanaian society. Long before the rise of social media and online news platforms, newspapers were the primary source of information for the public. Even today, despite digital competition, newspapers continue to serve critical social, political, educational, a

In Ghana, success is loudly celebrated, quietly envied, and endlessly debated. Yet, beneath the noise of social media displays, church testimonies, political slogans, and family expectations lies a deeper question we rarely pause to ask ourselves honestly: what does success truly mean to you? Not to

Across Africa, myths and misunderstandings about bedwetting continue to affect children and families. In Ghana, many parents still believe that children who wet their beds at night are lazy or unwilling to wake up to urinate. As a result, some children are physically disciplined. In past decades, pa

In Ghana, boys are socialized from an early age into the belief that boys do not cry. Among the Akan, any attempt by a boy to cry is frequently met with the admonition “gyae, barima nsu”—literally, “stop, boys do not cry.” This injunction reflects a broader cultural script that equates emotional res

Corporal punishment is when an adult uses physical force to discipline or control a child, with the aim of causing pain, though not serious injury. In simple terms, it means hurting a child’s body to punish them. Examples of corporal punishment include beating or caning, slapping or spanking, whippi

Corruption remains one of the most enduring social challenges confronting Ghana. Its roots stretch back to the colonial Gold Coast era (1821–1957) and continue to influence governance, public trust, and national development today. Understanding this long history is essential to appreciating why corr