Introduction Given the longevity noticed among older people in Ghana, and the potential occurrence of functional disability in later years of life, it has become essential to understand their care needs. This study examined the care needs in daily tasks and associated factors in Ghana, following the World Health Organisation International Classification of Functioning, Disability and Health framework. Materials and methods A cross-sectional survey was conducted among a sample of 400 older people from Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital in Southern Ghana. Care need was assessed by one question; “Do you regularly need help with daily tasks because of long-term illness, disability, or frailty?” Multivariate logistic regression was used to test the association between care need and independent variables based on the WHO-ICF conceptual framework. Results Majority of the sample (81%), particularly women (54%) reported needing care in daily tasks. Per the WHO-ICF conceptual framework, functional disability—activity variable, (OR = 1.07 95%CI: 1.05–1.09, p<0.001), and absence of government support—an environmental factor, (OR = 3.96 95%CI: 1.90–8.25, p<0.001) were associated with care need. Conclusions The high prevalence of care needs among older people may offer an indication that majority of older people in Ghana could benefit from long-term care services. Functional disability and the absence of government support are the major issues that need to be prioritised in addressing the increased demand for care related to performing daily tasks among older people in Ghana.

Starting in December 2019 in Wuhan China, the novel coronavirus (COVID 19) disease has reached 216 countries with 6, 140, 934 confirmed cases and 373, 548 deaths as at 2nd June, 2020 globally Ghana, with an estimated population of 31,014,508 has recorded 8, 297 confirmed cases, 2, 986 recoveries and 38 deaths with 5, 273 active cases as at the same date. All but one of the 16 administrative regions have recorded confirmed cases with the highest case numbers in the more urban regions of the country. Considering that one of the highest risk populations in the wake of the coronavirus outbreak is the elderly population, this brief essay examines the state of elderly care in Ghana in relation to this pandemic. The paper reflects on the state of care needs for the elderly, current elderly care systems, inadequacy of data on elderly population and social work practice in Ghana. It also raises questions on the preparedness of current elderly care systems and general social work practice in Ghana amidst COVID 19. The paper recommends professionalization of geriatric care and formalization of community-based care for the elderly in Ghana as the way forward.

COVID-19 as a pandemic has had severe implications on every country including Ghana. Although it has affected all persons, it’s implication on the vulnerable, particularly the homeless is immeasurable. This reflexive writeup aims to highlight the interventions made by the Government of Ghana for the homeless amidst COVID-19 and recommend ways to improve these interventions. In this essay, although I indicated that temporal interventions such as food, housing units and money were made available for head porters, a category of the homeless. I argue that these interventions should be made available for all category of homeless and also, the Government of Ghana should adopt sustainable ways of making these interventions permanent, so as to improve the living conditions of the homeless.

The Covid-19 pandemic has created socio-economic challenges for countries globally and has touched lives in some of the world’s most remote areas. While other countries have been proactive in addressing these challenges, I fear that Ghana, and to an extent most of sub-Saharan Africa, have failed to adequately prepare for and anticipate these challenges. This reflective essay discusses the paradoxes that the pandemic and the measures used to curb it have created for two vulnerable groups: informal economy workers and women and children in abusive relationships. I introduce the essay with a reflective account of the relevance and practicality of social work education and practice in Ghana in light of the ongoing pandemic. Subsequently, I focus on the two aforementioned vulnerable groups. I present a reflective account of how the challenges that emerged from this pandemic create new opportunities for my work as a social work educator and also for practice with these groups in Ghana.

The COVID-19 pandemic has created socio-economic challenges for countries globally and has touched lives in some of the remotest areas of the world. While other countries have been proactive in addressing this challenge, I fear that Ghana, and to an extent most of sub-Saharan Africa, have failed to adequately prepare and anticipate these challenges. This reflective essay discusses the paradoxes that the pandemic and the measures used to curb it creates for two vulnerable groups (informal economy workers and women and children in abusive relationships). I introduce the essay with a reflective account of the relevance and practicality of social work education and practice in Ghana in light of the on-going pandemic. Subsequently, I focus on two vulnerable groups (informal economy workers and women and children in abusive relationships). I present a reflective account of how the challenges that emerged from this pandemic creates new opportunities for my work as a social work educator and also for practice with these groups in Ghana.