SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT GOALS: Milestones, Barriers, and Opportunities for Social Work Practice in Ghana

The Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) which were adopted by 193 countries, including Ghana, came into effect in 2015 with the aim of fostering economic growth, ensuring social inclusion and protecting the environment. Ghana’s commitment to achieving the SDGs cannot be over emphasized given that the country has aligned its development priorities in partnership with civil society organizations (CSOs) and the private sector in order to improve upon the lives of people. Social work has an important role to play in Ghana’s social development by ensuring that the SDGs are achieved. This chapter commences with an introduction that discusses the SDGs and social work practice in Ghana. In addition, the chapter highlights the milestones and barriers to achieving the SDGs in Ghana. Moreover, the next sections of the chapter discuss social work challenges and how the SDGs provide opportunities for social work practice in Ghana. Emphasis is placed on the role of social work in relation to social development by focusing on Agenda 2030s five overarching themes, the 5 Ps (People, Planet, Prosperity, Peace, and Partnerships), which span across all the SDGs and when achieved, could change the lives of people for the better, especially those in vulnerable situations.