Like many other African countries, most of Ghana’s foster homes are faced with numerous deficiencies. A 2021 USAID report estimates that a total of 3,530 children live in residential homes in Ghana. The report also recorded findings of poor states of these residential facilities and their administrative systems.
Whereas a number of these homes are dedicated to catering for needy or homeless children, some are merely systems of exploitation. There are occasions when material donations given to these foster homes get sold for cash on the markets by the caretakers. The USAID report also noted that almost 1 in 4 of these homes are either not registered with the Department of Social Welfare or do not comply with laid down registration requirements. Hence, most of these homes are not providing the quality care they are supposed to give to the children. Of course, there is also the genuine challenge of inadequate funds in undertaking this responsibility for many of the homes. Some of the homes are so under-resourced that a three-square meal is only a wish for the children living there.
Anyway, a number of organizations have been making great contributions to help the situation. The Glory and Hope foundation by Dr Lorinda Liang, for instance, provides education, feeding and other resources for orphanage homes in figures of over $15,000 per 300 children homes every week. She provides these homes with groceries and other provisions including one 5kg rice and a canned fish per child per week. Her Mega Star Cities project will also be providing sustainable homes for these children, where they can receive quality education and also become responsible adults.
Thus, the Mega Star Cities project has special provision for children living in foster homes. The goal is to have them living and being educated in a regular environment where they’re not relegated to the less important group of children appear to be now. It is to ensure that they’re integrated into a standard and even better community, where they will feel and truly be more valued.