Centre for Social Policy Studies
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Item Planning for retirement during active service in Ghana: Insights from pensioners in the Greater Accra Region(Journal of Aging & Social Policy, 2024) Ongoh, M.; Afranie, S.; Ohemeng, F.; Abekah-Carter, K.; Godi, A.H.Workers often participate in pre-retirement planning activities to gain awareness of the likely changes they may experience when they retire to enable them to prepare accordingly. Although pre-retirement planning is essential for successful retirement and healthy aging, studies on pre-retirement plan ning activities among older adults in Ghana are limited. This study explored pre-retirement planning actions that were taken by Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT) pen sioners in the Greater Accra Region of Ghana. A sequential explanatory mixed-methods approach was adopted to gather data from 437 pensioners aged 60 years and above through surveys, interviews, and focus group discussions. The results indicate that while in active service, many (309) pensioners were not motivated to plan for retirement due to issues, such as low income, and distrust of financial institutions. When plan ning did take place, the pensioners favored financial planning over social, mental, and physical planning. The respondents also revealed that they did not prepare adequately for retirement due to low salaries, as well as low knowledge on pre-retirement planning. Policies are needed to encourage pre-retirement plan ning among workers in Ghana to enable them to have an appreciable quality of life in old age.Item A spatio-temporal analysis of academic performance at the Basic Education Certificate Examination in Ghana(ELSEVIER, 2015) Ansong, D.; Ansong, E.K.; Ampomah, A.O.; Afranie, S.Over the last decade, Ghana has more than tripled investment in its basic education system. Conse- quently, the country has made huge educational gains, primarily in providing universal access to basic education. However, many stakeholders are worried that academic performance is lagging because of dis- proportional attention to accessing basic education. Discussion of these concerns is hampered by ongoing disagreement about the true trajectory of academic performance at the basic education level and the widespread nature of students’ lagging academic performance. In part, this disagreement stems from the ailure of empirical studies to comprehensively examine trends in academic performance standards at the basic education level by concurrently considering a geographical and longitudinal perspective. Thus, this study examines the spatio-temporal trends of academic performance at the junior high school level since 2009 by using multilevel growth curve modeling, spatial statistics, and district-level longitudinal data. Results reveal 3 statistically distinct trajectories of academic performance: erratic, accelerating, and de- celerating changes. Results also show that rural–urban gaps explain 31% of the performance trajectories, a trend which is expected to persist in the long term. In addition, we find extreme variations in academic performance within rural areas. Given the varying trajectories and geographical variability in academic performance, we suggest a localized approach to addressing challenges of low academic achievement at the basic education level in Ghana.Item Where Should We Stay? Exploring the Options of Caring for Orphans and Vulnerable Children in Ghana(Center for Social Policy Studies - University of Ghana, 2012-01) Aryeetey, E.B.; Afranie, S.; Andoh, P.; Doh, D.; Antwi-Bosiakoh, T.This study provides an insight into care arrangements for orphan and vulnerable children in Ghana. It is an investigatory study using a mixed research method. Data was collected from 2, 100 households across 7 regions of Ghana and 36 institutional homes. It is evident that, there are a number of care arrangements available to orphan and vulnerable children in the country which are broadly categorized under institutional, community-based, and family/household care arrangements. Each of these care arrangements also has other subtypes depending on mode of operation. Institutional homes were most prominent followed by fosterage, adoption and house helps. Only one community-based ove care arrangement was identified. These care arrangtlJllents provided all manner of care services to ove, including education, food, health, socio-emotional and recreational care services; yet, there are obvious situations of lack of capacity and adherence to guidelines and regulations. Issues related to resources for home-based care were pronounced. It is therefore imperative that the situation of orphans and vulnerable children be carefully reconsidered. The capacity of the Department of Social Welfare comes to the fore in the quest to redefined care arrangements for ove. Nonetheless, the debate on care arrangements for ove lies in the adoption of a more. comprehensive regulatory system with consideration for home-based care arrangements including fosterage and adoption.