Child protection realities of detained juveniles in a Ghanaian correctional facility: A qualitative narrative

Abstract

Ghana's juvenile justice system emphasizes rehabilitation and reintegration of juvenile offenders, aligning with the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child's principles for protecting young offenders' rights and wellbeing. While the Ghanaian child welfare discourse has primarily focused on issues of child abuse, neglect, and child labour, limited attention has been paid to the lived experiences of juveniles within correctional facilities in Ghana, a low-and middle-income country (LMIC). This study employed a qualitative case study design to examine the child protection experiences of committed juveniles in Ghana's only juvenile correctional facility. Using purposive sampling, semi-structured interviews were conducted with 19 male juveniles aged 14–17 years who had been in the facility for at least three months. Data was analysed using Braun and Clarke's thematic analysis approach. Findings revealed three major themes: compromised quality of education due to resource constraints, inadequate nutrition stemming from severe under-resourcing, and reduced parental contact exacerbated by the centralized nature of Ghana's juvenile justice system. Through the lens of Bronfenbrenner's ecological systems theory, the study examines how these challenges manifest across different systemic levels. The findings contribute to understanding child welfare challenges in an LMIC context and emphasize the importance of developing culturally relevant, evidence-based interventions and policies within Ghana's juvenile justice system.