Myths often surround orphanages in West Africa; some see them as safe havens for children without families, while others argue they are harmful institutions that exploit poverty. The truth lies somewhere in between, shaped by history, culture, poverty, and policy.
Across countries like Ghana, Nigeria, Liberia, and Sierra Leone, orphanages operate under diverse conditions: some are licensed and supported by government ministries of social welfare, while many others are informal, unregulated, and reliant on foreign donations.
Reports from UNICEF, Hope and Homes for Children, and local organizations such as Child Rights International (Ghana) and Don Bosco Fambul (Sierra Leone) show that most children in orphanages are not orphans at all; they often have at least one living parent.
Poverty, disability, or lack of school access are the real reasons families turn to institutions. Yet communities continue to believe myths: that orphanages are “better” than poor families, that they provide superior education, or that adoption is the main goal.
Orphanages in West Africa have long been seen as safe havens for children without families. The image is powerful: neatly dressed children, singing for visitors, cared for by “aunties” and “uncles.” But behind the walls of these institutions lies a more complicated reality.
In 2025, researchers, social workers, and former residents are challenging the myths about orphanages and asking a crucial question: Are we supporting children—or just buildings?
A Walk Into an Orphanage
When you step into an orphanage in Accra or Monrovia, you might be greeted by smiling children. To a casual visitor, it looks like hope. But social workers often tell a different story.
One young man in Nigeria, Kwame, who grew up in an orphanage, said:
“We had food and school, yes. But when I turned 18, I had no one. No family. No home to go to. That’s when life became harder than before.”
His story reflects a larger truth: most orphanages provide short-term shelter but fail to prepare children for life beyond their gates.
The Origins of Orphanages in West Africa
The concept of orphanages in West Africa dates back to the colonial missionary era, when epidemics and wars left many children without parents. Over time, orphanages became institutionalized as the “solution” for vulnerable children.
Yet, as highlighted in Family-Based vs Institutional Care by Deborah Dzifah Tamakloe and Lisa Lovett-Smith, institutions were never designed for long-term upbringing. The book emphasizes that:
“Children grow best in families, not facilities. While institutions may meet physical needs, they rarely provide the love, identity, and lifelong belonging that families offer.”
Myths vs. Facts About Orphanages
Myth 1: “Orphanages are full of orphans.”
Fact: Research by Child Rights International (Ghana) and UNICEF shows that 80–90% of children in orphanages have at least one living parent. Poverty, not death, is the main driver.
Story: In Sierra Leone, Mariama, 15, was placed in an orphanage when her mother could not afford school fees. She later returned home through a family reunification program, saying, “Even though my aunt is poor, I belong here.”
Myth 2: “Children are better off in orphanages than in poor families.”
Fact: Studies cited in Family-Based vs Institutional Care show that children in orphanages often suffer developmental delays, attachment issues, and identity struggles. Even poor families provide children with love, belonging, and community ties.
Example: A 2023 study in Ghana found that children raised in kinship care (with extended family) performed better socially and emotionally than those raised in institutions.
Myth 3: “Orphanages provide superior education and opportunities.”
Fact: Some orphanages advertise private schools, but long-term studies show children raised in institutions struggle once they leave, lacking life skills and networks.
Story: Joseph, from Liberia, explained: “I knew math and English, but I didn’t know how to cook, budget, or relate to a family. Outside, I felt lost.”
Myth 4: “Foreign donations keep orphanages alive, so they must be good.”
Fact: The “orphanage business” is real. Investigations in Liberia and Nigeria have revealed orphanages recruiting children to attract donor money.
Example: A 2022 audit in Liberia found that some orphanages pressured families to “surrender” children, promising education and food, to keep international funding flowing.
Myth 5: “Adoption is the main purpose of orphanages.”
Fact: Most children in West African orphanages are never adopted. Instead, they “age out” at 16–18 with no family support.
Story: In Ghana, Abena, who grew up in a children’s home, said: “We were many, but when we left, each of us was alone. I envy those who have someone to call even when they are poor.”
What Governments and NGOs Are Doing
• Ghana’s Care Reform Initiative (CRI): Aims to shift children from institutions to family-based care. Progress is uneven but ongoing.
• Nigeria’s Child Rights Act: Mandates that alternative family care should be prioritized. Implementation varies by state.
• Sierra Leone: Closing abusive orphanages while promoting kinship care through NGOs like Don Bosco Fambul.
• UNICEF West Africa: Advocates against new orphanage construction, urging governments to build foster and kinship care systems.
Opinion: The challenge is not a lack of policies, but weak enforcement and funding. Orphanages still thrive because foreign donations are directed at buildings instead of families.
The Alternative: Families, Not Facilities
In West African culture, family and community ties run deep. Instead of funding orphanages, governments and donors can build on this strength.
• Kinship Care: Support grandparents, aunts, or older siblings with small grants.
• Foster Care: Develop trained and supported foster parents.
• Community Parenting: Encourage extended families and communities to share responsibility.
• Social Protection: Expand cash transfers, free education, and healthcare to reduce poverty-driven child placements.
Success Story: Rwanda’s care reform (a continental example) reduced the number of children in orphanages by 70% in a decade, showing it’s possible to shift towards family care.
Recommendations
1. Ban new orphanage registrations (Ghana is doing this).
2. Redirect donor funds to family-based programs.
3. Enforce care reform policies with independent monitoring.
4. Scale universal child benefits to tackle poverty-driven placements.
5. Train social workers to support foster and kinship care.
6. Raise public awareness to challenge myths and harmful practices.
Key Resources
• Family-Based vs Institutional Care – Deborah Dzifah Tamakloe & Lisa Lovatt-Smith
• UNICEF – Children in Alternative Care: Global Progress and Challenges (2024)
• Hope and Homes for Children – The Illusion of Orphanages (2023)
• Child Rights International (Ghana) – Annual Child Welfare Report (2024)
• Don Bosco Fambul (Sierra Leone) – Family Reunification Stories
• Ghana Ministry of Gender – Care Reform Initiative Brief
Orphanages in West Africa are often misunderstood. They are not overflowing with orphans, nor are they the best solution for vulnerable children. As Family-Based vs Institutional Care reminds us, “Children grow best in families, not facilities.”
The future of child welfare in West Africa lies not in building more orphanages, but in building stronger families and communities.
