Exploring African-centred social work education: the Ghanaian experience

ABSTRACT

Through the years, there has been regular discourse among African social work scholars regarding the production of indigenous knowledge in Africa. Most of the arguments hold that social work knowledge creation and production is often based on Eurocentric approaches due to the dearth of African-centered social work literature from the continent. This paper attempts to explore the intellectual and philosophical underpinnings of African-centered social work education and practice. Using Ghana as a case study, information is provided on theoretical and conceptual thought processes about African-centered social work education in response to the shortage of insights pertaining to African culture. By means of purposive and availability sampling, we recruited three graduate students to be interviewed. The interviews were analyzed using thematic inquiry. We explored African paradigms and argued that the practice of social work education on the continent of Africa should not be based on the Eurocentric approaches only, to the detriment of traditional African ways of knowing. We believe that for social work education in Africa to thrive, we should embrace indigenous African practices and values of spirituality, collectivity, interconnectedness and reciprocity.

KEYWORDS:

• Ghana
• African-centered
• social work education
• indigenous
• Global South

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the authors.

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Augustina Naami

Augustina Naami is a Senior Lecturer and Head of Department at the Department of Social Work, at the University of Ghana. She holds a BA in Economics from the University of Ghana, Masters and PhD in Social Work from the Universities of Chicago and Utah respectively. Her research focuses on disability and mental health, intersection of vulnerabilities and social policy.

Magnus Mfoafo-M’Carthy

Magnus Mfoafo-M’Carthy is a Professor at the Lyle S. Hallman Faculty of Social Work, Wilfrid Laurier University, Ontario, Canada. His research focuses on global mental health and Afrocentric social woirk practice.