For decades, orphanages in Ghana have served as a solution for children who lack parental care due to poverty, abandonment, or the death of their caregivers. However, in recent years, the Department of Social Welfare (DSW) has taken steps to change the narrative by phasing out the term orphanage and replacing it with residential homes for children (RCH).
While this change reflects a positive shift in ideology, many argue that it shouldn’t just be about a name change, as much of the operations and practices within these facilities remain the same.
Why the Name Change?
The term orphanage traditionally suggests a home exclusively for children without parents. However, research and data have shown that most children in such facilities still have living parents or extended family members who are unable to care for them due to financial or social challenges.
The Department of Social Welfare introduced the term residential homes for children to better reflect this reality, reduce stigma, and signal a shift towards promoting family-based care.
The name change also aligns with international best practices and Ghana’s commitment to deinstitutionalizing child care. However, critics argue that this change has been largely superficial, as many residential homes still operate in ways identical to traditional orphanages.

Residential Homes: What Has Changed?
In theory, residential homes for children are meant to provide temporary care for children while efforts are made to reintegrate them with their families or find alternative family-based care solutions like foster care. The focus is supposed to be on individualized care, education, and the child’s eventual reintegration into a family setting.
However, in practice, most residential homes still operate much like orphanages:
• Long-Term Institutionalization: Many children remain in these homes for years, with little to no effort made to reunite them with their families or place them in foster care.
• Overcrowding and Resource Challenges: Just like traditional orphanages, many homes face issues like overcrowding, lack of funding, and inadequate staff training.
• Focus on Donations: Some homes are heavily dependent on donations and prioritize attracting foreign aid over creating sustainable care plans for children.
This highlights the need for systemic change, rather than just a rebranding of facilities.
Current State of Residential Homes for Children in Ghana
1. Regulations and Oversight
The Department of Social Welfare is tasked with regulating residential homes, ensuring they meet minimum standards. However, enforcement is inconsistent, and many homes operate without proper licensing or oversight.
2. Population and Demographics
Many children in residential care are not orphans but come from families in crisis. Poverty, neglect, and abuse remain the primary reasons for their placement.
3. Quality of Care
While some residential homes strive to provide a nurturing environment, others struggle with underfunding, inadequate staff-to-child ratios, and lack of professional training. This mirrors the challenges faced by traditional orphanages.
It’s Not Just About a Name Change
The shift from orphanage to residential home for children is a step in the right direction, but without significant changes in operations, the impact will remain minimal. For the new terminology to truly reflect progress:
• Family-Based Care Must Be Prioritized: Reintegration programs, foster care, and community-based support must replace the long-term institutionalization of children.
• Temporary Care Should Be the Goal: Residential homes must serve as a temporary safety net, not a permanent solution.
• Monitoring and Accountability Must Improve: The Department of Social Welfare needs better resources to enforce regulations and ensure that homes are meeting care standards.
The Push for Deinstitutionalization
Globally, there is a growing consensus that children thrive better in family-based care environments than in institutions. Ghana has committed to deinstitutionalizing child care by:
• Supporting reintegration with biological or extended families.
• Promoting foster care as a viable alternative.
• Strengthening community-based support systems to prevent family separation in the first place.
Challenges in the Transition
1. Unregistered Homes
Many facilities still operate without oversight, making it difficult to ensure children’s rights are protected.
2. Cultural Perceptions
Residential homes are still viewed by many as the best option for vulnerable children, particularly in poverty-stricken communities.
3. Resource Constraints
Deinstitutionalization requires significant investment in social welfare systems, training, and community-based programs.
Reflections
The renaming of orphanages to residential homes for children in Ghana reflects a shift in philosophy but falls short of addressing the deeper issues within the system.
While the change in terminology is important for reducing stigma and promoting a focus on temporary care, much of the operations in these homes remain the same as traditional orphanages.
True progress will require more than a name change. It demands a commitment to systemic reforms, including better oversight, a focus on family-based care, and addressing the root causes of child abandonment and neglect. Only then can Ghana ensure that every child grows up in a nurturing and supportive environment.
Deborah Tamakloe
Anticipate for my new book “TEN REASONS NOT TO START AN ORPHANAGE”