Esmeranda Manful
Biographic Data
| ID | 1245040 |
|---|---|
| NAME | Esmeranda Manful |
| GIVEN NAMES | Esmeranda |
| FAMILY NAME | Manful |
| SIGNATURE | MANFUL E |
| AFFILIATIONS | Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology |
| ORCID | 0000-0002-6346-289X |
| VERIFIED | Yes |
| TOTAL WORKS | 21 |
| TOTAL CITATIONS | 47 |
| AUTHOR COUNT | 21 |
| EDITOR COUNT | 0 |
| FIRST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2009 |
| LATEST PUBLICATION YEAR | 2026 |
| H-INDEX | 4 |
The Nexus Between Socio-cultural Beliefs and Fundamental Human Rights Abuse Amongst Victims of Witches’ Accusations in Rural Communities in the Northern Part of Ghana
Ghana, as a member of the United Nations, is a signatory to its human rights standards. However, socio-cultural belief systems in Ghana, such as witchcraft accusations, show some divergence between socio-cultural belief systems and the modern concept of human rights. This study sought to critically analyse how socio-cultural belief systems relate, contradict and trample on the fundamental human rights of persons accused of witchcraft practices. T…
Kumasi trees – project of the hearts. Decolonial strategies for advancing urban greenery in a Sub-Saharan city
Rapid expansion in low- and middle-income countries often follows the destructive environmental paths set by wealthier colonial powers. The greatest obstacle is the prevailing mindset: a lack of environmental awareness and continued exploitation of natural and human resources. To achieve sustainable urban planning, it’s vital to avoid colonial practices, raise environmental awareness, and foster local appreciation of the environment as a cultural…
Breaking the cycle
Reports, including empirical research, indicate that violence directed toward children accused of being witches (termed ritual abuse) has intensified in contemporary Africa. The phenomenon of ritual abuse has its roots in the medieval period where certain behaviors exhibited by children were labeled as non-normative and associated with supernatural beliefs. Over time, these beliefs have been influenced (both positively and negatively) by societal…
Elderly Victimization in the Context of Witchcraft Accusations and Persons Accused of Witchcraft Practices Living Within the Gambaga Witches’ Camp
The practice of sociocultural belief systems in Ghana such as witchcraft accusations leads to situations where some elderly people in the northern part of Ghana are likely to be victimized based on sociocultural belief systems. Persons accused of witchcraft practices can be denied some of their basic fundamental human rights. The lack of a clear understanding of human rights standards among many rural folks, especially in a rural part of Northern…
Exploring the interconnectedness between social work education and social work practice
To make social work education relevant, educators, students, and practitioners must assess the extent to which taught concepts, theories and techniques are relevant for practice within the local context. Currently, there is little empirical research in Ghana that reviews the social work curriculum in relation to practice. This paper relies on data collected from BA Social Work graduates working with various social service agencies in Ghana. These…
Fathers' motivations and expectations from participating in early child care
Digital Literacy in the Informal Economy of Ghana
The COVID-19 pandemic has underscored the growing importance of digital technologies for economic resilience, especially for vulnerable groups like older workers in the informal sector. However, barriers to access and digital literacy create challenges alongside potential opportunities, particularly in less developed countries such as Ghana. Using older adults over 50 years engaged in informal work in Kumasi’s Central Business District in Ghana a…
Hybrid masculinity in early childcare
Men’s identity and daily survival appear to be restricted and stereotyped in society. Men and boys are socialized to be excluded from breastfeeding, complementary feeding, child bathing, cleaning, care for umbilical, and sleeping arrangement childcare activities and identified as providers for the family in Ghana. This paper seeks to explore how hybrid masculinity is being created by first-time fathers in Oforikrom Municipality, Ghana. Using a ca…
Contributing to indigenous social work practice in Africa
This paper aims to contribute to the indigenisation discourse by illustrating how dominant discourses and cultural practices explain and perpetuate social problems. We argue that focussing on the fundamental issue of a cultural conceptualisation of social problems will contribute positively to the development of the indigenous social work practice framework. As social work education forms an important foundation for how future social work practic…
Reunification in Informal Foster Care Child Placement
Informal foster care remains the preferred alternative care option for children in many parts of the world. However, the processes of reunification in informal foster care are largely unknown. This qualitative study sought to explore the reunification processes within informal foster care in Ghana to inform child protection services for better program design for such children. Twenty interviews were conducted with reunified fostered children and …
I agreed to go because……..examining the Agency of Children within a phenomenon conceptualised as trafficking in Ghana
The legal and policy framework on child trafficking is dismissive of children's agency and regards them as vulnerable personalities. This paper examines the scope of children's agency in their transportation to other communities for fishing in Ghana. Using a phenomenological design, 17 child returnees' views were elicited on their movement for fishing activities. Findings revealed that children's agentive capabilities progressed primarily from co…
Work socialisation gone wrong? Exploring the antecedent of child trafficking in two Ghanaian fishing communities
The phenomenon of child trafficking has emerged as a global child protection concern ever since the Palermo Protocol was promulgated by the United Nations in the year 2000. Since then, specific aspects of children’s mobility for work in sectors such as fishing have been conceptualised as trafficking in Ghana. Drawing on a qualitative case study design, the views of 20 fishing community members were elicited in Senya Breku and Yeji. The study foun…
How Did I Know When to Report Physical Neglect? Ghanaian Mothers’ Views on Delinquent Child Maintenance
Most Ghanaian mothers left to provide care for their children following separation or a divorce face challenges in meeting their children’s basic needs. To ensure that non-resident fathers are engaged in the caregiving, recourse is usually to social workers at the Department of Social Welfare (DSW). There is evidence that, with the intervention of social workers, some fathers agree to provide regular maintenance to support the care of their child…
Creating a better kinship environment for children in Ghana
Traditionally, the involvement of the extended family in nurturing children is seen as an essential cultural practice in most communities in Ghana. Though not formally regulated, often in the absence of birth parents, kin and kith continue to be involved in the care of children to promote family relations and culture. Yet there is little empirical evidence on how to improve the well‐being and safety of children in informal kinship care in Ghana. …
Towards child-inclusive practices in child protection in Ghana
Examining Welfare Provision for Children in an Old Relic
The United Nations Guideline for the Alternative Care for Children is a framework intended to ensure global de-institutionalization and reintegration of children in care institutions. Despite Ghana’s commitments towards de-institutionalization of vulnerable children in need of care, for some children residential care still remains the only formal alternative option. Therefore, this study sought to examine the welfare of children who are still in …
Is kinship failing? Views on informal support by families in contact with social services in Ghana
Traditionally, Ghanaian families facing difficulties address their problems by engaging kin, with the State being the last point of call. However, in recent times, more families facing difficulties are contacting social services to seek redress. So what contribution are kin and other informal social support networks providing to the care and safety of children of such families? This paper presents findings from 15 families receiving services from…
Barriers to childcare in Children's Homes in Ghana
Conceptualisation of child neglect
Child neglect incidents are the most frequent cases reported to the Department of Social Welfare in Ghana. Therefore, an effective approach to inform practice decisions to curb the numbers is of great importance. Using a qualitative research design, 28 Practitioners’ and parents’ narratives on the perception and causes of child neglect were explored. The study revealed that there is a convergence and divergence of views on how child neglect is co…
Ghana's Children's Act 560
In 1998 Ghana harmonised its child care legislation to conform to the Convention on the Rights of the Child by enacting the Children's Act 1998, Act 560. Some stakeholders expressed misgivings at its capacity to ensure child protection, but little literature exists on the views of professionals working within the law. This paper presents an investigation of the views of professionals who are mandated to work within the law to ensure the rights of…
Improving the lives of Ghanaian children
Manful SE, Manful E. Improving the lives of Ghanaian children: complementing the global agenda with a structural social work approach Int J Soc Welfare 2010: 19: 115–123 © 2009 The Author(s), Journal compilation © 2009 Blackwell Publishing Ltd and the International Journal of Social Welfare. In principle, Ghana's commitment to the global agenda for improving the welfare of children cannot be disputed. Globalisation has advanced changes in the cou…
Creating a better kinship environment for children in Ghana
Traditionally, the involvement of the extended family in nurturing children is seen as an essential cultural practice in most communities in Ghana. Though not formally regulated, often in the absence of birth parents, kin and kith continue to be involved in the care of children to promote family relations and culture. Yet there is little empirical evidence on how to improve the well‐being and safety of children in informal kinship care in Ghana. …
Barriers to childcare in Children's Homes in Ghana
Is kinship failing? Views on informal support by families in contact with social services in Ghana
Traditionally, Ghanaian families facing difficulties address their problems by engaging kin, with the State being the last point of call. However, in recent times, more families facing difficulties are contacting social services to seek redress. So what contribution are kin and other informal social support networks providing to the care and safety of children of such families? This paper presents findings from 15 families receiving services from…
Conceptualisation of child neglect
Child neglect incidents are the most frequent cases reported to the Department of Social Welfare in Ghana. Therefore, an effective approach to inform practice decisions to curb the numbers is of great importance. Using a qualitative research design, 28 Practitioners’ and parents’ narratives on the perception and causes of child neglect were explored. The study revealed that there is a convergence and divergence of views on how child neglect is co…
Ghana's Children's Act 560
In 1998 Ghana harmonised its child care legislation to conform to the Convention on the Rights of the Child by enacting the Children's Act 1998, Act 560. Some stakeholders expressed misgivings at its capacity to ensure child protection, but little literature exists on the views of professionals working within the law. This paper presents an investigation of the views of professionals who are mandated to work within the law to ensure the rights of…
Work socialisation gone wrong? Exploring the antecedent of child trafficking in two Ghanaian fishing communities
The phenomenon of child trafficking has emerged as a global child protection concern ever since the Palermo Protocol was promulgated by the United Nations in the year 2000. Since then, specific aspects of children’s mobility for work in sectors such as fishing have been conceptualised as trafficking in Ghana. Drawing on a qualitative case study design, the views of 20 fishing community members were elicited in Senya Breku and Yeji. The study foun…
Towards child-inclusive practices in child protection in Ghana
Examining Welfare Provision for Children in an Old Relic
The United Nations Guideline for the Alternative Care for Children is a framework intended to ensure global de-institutionalization and reintegration of children in care institutions. Despite Ghana’s commitments towards de-institutionalization of vulnerable children in need of care, for some children residential care still remains the only formal alternative option. Therefore, this study sought to examine the welfare of children who are still in …
Hybrid masculinity in early childcare
Men’s identity and daily survival appear to be restricted and stereotyped in society. Men and boys are socialized to be excluded from breastfeeding, complementary feeding, child bathing, cleaning, care for umbilical, and sleeping arrangement childcare activities and identified as providers for the family in Ghana. This paper seeks to explore how hybrid masculinity is being created by first-time fathers in Oforikrom Municipality, Ghana. Using a ca…
How Did I Know When to Report Physical Neglect? Ghanaian Mothers’ Views on Delinquent Child Maintenance
Most Ghanaian mothers left to provide care for their children following separation or a divorce face challenges in meeting their children’s basic needs. To ensure that non-resident fathers are engaged in the caregiving, recourse is usually to social workers at the Department of Social Welfare (DSW). There is evidence that, with the intervention of social workers, some fathers agree to provide regular maintenance to support the care of their child…
Improving the lives of Ghanaian children
Manful SE, Manful E. Improving the lives of Ghanaian children: complementing the global agenda with a structural social work approach Int J Soc Welfare 2010: 19: 115–123 © 2009 The Author(s), Journal compilation © 2009 Blackwell Publishing Ltd and the International Journal of Social Welfare. In principle, Ghana's commitment to the global agenda for improving the welfare of children cannot be disputed. Globalisation has advanced changes in the cou…
Ghana's Children's Act 560
In 1998 Ghana harmonised its child care legislation to conform to the Convention on the Rights of the Child by enacting the Children's Act 1998, Act 560. Some stakeholders expressed misgivings at its capacity to ensure child protection, but little literature exists on the views of professionals working within the law. This paper presents an investigation of the views of professionals who are mandated to work within the law to ensure the rights of…
Is kinship failing? Views on informal support by families in contact with social services in Ghana
Traditionally, Ghanaian families facing difficulties address their problems by engaging kin, with the State being the last point of call. However, in recent times, more families facing difficulties are contacting social services to seek redress. So what contribution are kin and other informal social support networks providing to the care and safety of children of such families? This paper presents findings from 15 families receiving services from…
Barriers to childcare in Children's Homes in Ghana
Conceptualisation of child neglect
Child neglect incidents are the most frequent cases reported to the Department of Social Welfare in Ghana. Therefore, an effective approach to inform practice decisions to curb the numbers is of great importance. Using a qualitative research design, 28 Practitioners’ and parents’ narratives on the perception and causes of child neglect were explored. The study revealed that there is a convergence and divergence of views on how child neglect is co…
How Did I Know When to Report Physical Neglect? Ghanaian Mothers’ Views on Delinquent Child Maintenance
Most Ghanaian mothers left to provide care for their children following separation or a divorce face challenges in meeting their children’s basic needs. To ensure that non-resident fathers are engaged in the caregiving, recourse is usually to social workers at the Department of Social Welfare (DSW). There is evidence that, with the intervention of social workers, some fathers agree to provide regular maintenance to support the care of their child…
Creating a better kinship environment for children in Ghana
Traditionally, the involvement of the extended family in nurturing children is seen as an essential cultural practice in most communities in Ghana. Though not formally regulated, often in the absence of birth parents, kin and kith continue to be involved in the care of children to promote family relations and culture. Yet there is little empirical evidence on how to improve the well‐being and safety of children in informal kinship care in Ghana. …
Towards child-inclusive practices in child protection in Ghana
Examining Welfare Provision for Children in an Old Relic
The United Nations Guideline for the Alternative Care for Children is a framework intended to ensure global de-institutionalization and reintegration of children in care institutions. Despite Ghana’s commitments towards de-institutionalization of vulnerable children in need of care, for some children residential care still remains the only formal alternative option. Therefore, this study sought to examine the welfare of children who are still in …
I agreed to go because……..examining the Agency of Children within a phenomenon conceptualised as trafficking in Ghana
The legal and policy framework on child trafficking is dismissive of children's agency and regards them as vulnerable personalities. This paper examines the scope of children's agency in their transportation to other communities for fishing in Ghana. Using a phenomenological design, 17 child returnees' views were elicited on their movement for fishing activities. Findings revealed that children's agentive capabilities progressed primarily from co…
Work socialisation gone wrong? Exploring the antecedent of child trafficking in two Ghanaian fishing communities
The phenomenon of child trafficking has emerged as a global child protection concern ever since the Palermo Protocol was promulgated by the United Nations in the year 2000. Since then, specific aspects of children’s mobility for work in sectors such as fishing have been conceptualised as trafficking in Ghana. Drawing on a qualitative case study design, the views of 20 fishing community members were elicited in Senya Breku and Yeji. The study foun…
Reunification in Informal Foster Care Child Placement
Informal foster care remains the preferred alternative care option for children in many parts of the world. However, the processes of reunification in informal foster care are largely unknown. This qualitative study sought to explore the reunification processes within informal foster care in Ghana to inform child protection services for better program design for such children. Twenty interviews were conducted with reunified fostered children and …
Contributing to indigenous social work practice in Africa
This paper aims to contribute to the indigenisation discourse by illustrating how dominant discourses and cultural practices explain and perpetuate social problems. We argue that focussing on the fundamental issue of a cultural conceptualisation of social problems will contribute positively to the development of the indigenous social work practice framework. As social work education forms an important foundation for how future social work practic…
Elderly Victimization in the Context of Witchcraft Accusations and Persons Accused of Witchcraft Practices Living Within the Gambaga Witches’ Camp
The practice of sociocultural belief systems in Ghana such as witchcraft accusations leads to situations where some elderly people in the northern part of Ghana are likely to be victimized based on sociocultural belief systems. Persons accused of witchcraft practices can be denied some of their basic fundamental human rights. The lack of a clear understanding of human rights standards among many rural folks, especially in a rural part of Northern…
Exploring the interconnectedness between social work education and social work practice
To make social work education relevant, educators, students, and practitioners must assess the extent to which taught concepts, theories and techniques are relevant for practice within the local context. Currently, there is little empirical research in Ghana that reviews the social work curriculum in relation to practice. This paper relies on data collected from BA Social Work graduates working with various social service agencies in Ghana. These…
Fathers' motivations and expectations from participating in early child care
Digital Literacy in the Informal Economy of Ghana
The COVID-19 pandemic has underscored the growing importance of digital technologies for economic resilience, especially for vulnerable groups like older workers in the informal sector. However, barriers to access and digital literacy create challenges alongside potential opportunities, particularly in less developed countries such as Ghana. Using older adults over 50 years engaged in informal work in Kumasi’s Central Business District in Ghana a…
Hybrid masculinity in early childcare
Men’s identity and daily survival appear to be restricted and stereotyped in society. Men and boys are socialized to be excluded from breastfeeding, complementary feeding, child bathing, cleaning, care for umbilical, and sleeping arrangement childcare activities and identified as providers for the family in Ghana. This paper seeks to explore how hybrid masculinity is being created by first-time fathers in Oforikrom Municipality, Ghana. Using a ca…
Kumasi trees – project of the hearts. Decolonial strategies for advancing urban greenery in a Sub-Saharan city
Rapid expansion in low- and middle-income countries often follows the destructive environmental paths set by wealthier colonial powers. The greatest obstacle is the prevailing mindset: a lack of environmental awareness and continued exploitation of natural and human resources. To achieve sustainable urban planning, it’s vital to avoid colonial practices, raise environmental awareness, and foster local appreciation of the environment as a cultural…
Breaking the cycle
Reports, including empirical research, indicate that violence directed toward children accused of being witches (termed ritual abuse) has intensified in contemporary Africa. The phenomenon of ritual abuse has its roots in the medieval period where certain behaviors exhibited by children were labeled as non-normative and associated with supernatural beliefs. Over time, these beliefs have been influenced (both positively and negatively) by societal…
The Nexus Between Socio-cultural Beliefs and Fundamental Human Rights Abuse Amongst Victims of Witches’ Accusations in Rural Communities in the Northern Part of Ghana
Ghana, as a member of the United Nations, is a signatory to its human rights standards. However, socio-cultural belief systems in Ghana, such as witchcraft accusations, show some divergence between socio-cultural belief systems and the modern concept of human rights. This study sought to critically analyse how socio-cultural belief systems relate, contradict and trample on the fundamental human rights of persons accused of witchcraft practices. T…
Psychology (16 works) · Political science (15 works) · Medicine (13 works) · Sociology (13 works) · Nursing (9 works) · Economic growth (7 works) · Poverty, Education, and Child Welfare (7 works) · Social Psychology (7 works) · Social Work (7 works) · Welfare (7 works)