A Comparison of Personnel Training Needs and Program Priorities for the Disabled in Ghana and Nigeria

Ghana and Nigeria are typical of many developing nations that find themselves in the throes of a sweeping socio-cultural transition. There are a number of similarities between these two West African nations. For example, both are former British colonies that have experienced a number of shifts between civilian and military rule.1 Both also present pictures of considerable ethnic diversity. Among the major groups in Ghana are the Akan, Ewe and Ga. The Hausa, Ibo and Yoruba are but a few of the many ethnic groups in Nigeria. Each of these groups is distinctive in language and culture. While English is the national language in both countries, the degree of fluency in English varies among groups and often is related to the level of formal education.2 As in many developing nations, there are considerable educational and economic disparities in both countries. Maximal change has occurred in the southern and, to a lesser degree, central areas of these nations. It is in these areas that the exchange economy is most developed, processes of urbanization are most advanced and

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