SOCIALISATION AND OUR SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT

socialisation is a conscious effort by the older generation to transmit the culture of the society
to the younger generation to enable the younger members function as responsible and
acceptable members of society
TYPES OF SOCIALISATION
Many types of socialisation have been identified. The various types of socialisation are the
following:
i. Primary socialisation
This is the initial training that the individual receives during childhood. It begins in the home,
where the child interacts with his parents and siblings. It is a process of social interaction
through which a child in his early years of life acquires personality and learns the ways of his
society. It is the initial training that a child acquires from childhood and is mostly given by
the parents and older siblings. It involves feeding, bathing, toilet training, etiquette, language
acquisition among others.
ii. Secondary socialisation
This is the further training that the individual receives in the school, community, church and
others, after his initial training in the home.
iii. Resocialisation
This is the process by which a new set of norms and values and pattern of behaviour are
inculcated into the individual. An example is, students in a boarding house.
iv. Anticipatory socialisation
This is the process by which individuals prepare themselves for roles which they aspire but
which they do not yet occupy. An individual who wants to become a singer may rehearse the
songs sung by an artiste and also imitate his behaviour on stage.
v. Occupational socialisation
Occupational socialisation is where the individual learns the values, beliefs and the norms of
a new occupation or organisation.
THE IMPORTANCE OF PRIMARY SOCIALIZATION TO THE DEVELOPMENT
OF THE INDIVIDUAL
(i) Acquisition of language or communication skills
The primary socialization is the first type of social group a child contacts to acquire language
of the mother tongue from parents and elder siblings at home. It is through this process the
child learns decent language and proper communication skills to enable him interact decently
with his family members and other people in the society.
(ii) Inculcates basic discipline in the child/moral and character training
Primary socialization builds up the good moral life of a child at home to become responsible
citizen in the society. The parents and siblings of a child impart the norms and social values
in him to become respectful, humble and peace-loving person in the society. The primary
socialization, through the family, disciplines the child when he misbehaves to become
morally upright.
(iii) Transmission of cultural heritage
Primary socialization also helps to import the rich cultural elements of the society to the child
through the elders/parents in the family. It creates the opportunity for the child to participate
and learn the customs, beliefs and traditions through the celebrations of funeral rites, naming
ceremony, marriage rite and other cultural practices. Through this, the child is helped to grow
up to become socially responsible in the society.
vi) Promotes co-operation
Primary socialization is also important because it helps to inculcate a sense of team work and
co-operation in the individual. The child is given the opportunity to interact, share and work
together with his parents, siblings and other relatives in family activities at home. All these
develop the child to become tolerant, co-operative and relate well to all manner of people and
situations in life.
(Vii) ensures intellectual development of the child
Primary socialization is also important in the development of the individual because it helps
to develop the intellectual capabilities of the child. The child is given the opportunity to learn
traditional proverbs, play games of riddles and puzzles with elder siblings, learn counting and
measurement of objects through cooking, etc at home. All these help the child to reason
properly, remember and analyse situations well and take right decisions or choices in life.
(viii) Provision of emotional needs of the child
Another important aspect of primary socialization to the development of an individual is the
establishment of emotional feelings of a child. The family or parents serve as the source or
affection, sympathy and encouragement for the child. The child is helped by parents and
siblings to feel loved, cared for and emotionally balanced at home. These help to prevent the
child from emotional stress and other undesirable feelings that would push him/her into pre-
marital sex, prostitution, drug abuse etc.
(ix) Gives a sense of identity to the individual
The primary socialization is the source of identity to the individual or child in the society.
The child acquires a family name through the family as agency of primary socialization. This
makes the child to be identified among a large family group sharing common cultural values
in a society.
(x) Provision of physical needs
The family as agency of primary socialization provides the child with food, shelter, water an
other physical needs. These provisions to the child are important to his/her development
because they help to sustain him or her physically and stay healthy. They also help to prevent
the child from engaging in undesirable activities like prostitution, armed robbery, pre-marital
sex etc, in order to meet such needs.
AGENCIES AND AGENTS OF SOCIALISATION
Agencies are organisations or institutions while Agents are individuals who perform the
function of socialisation on behalf of these institutions. It is therefore,
1. The home/family/ parents and siblings
2. The school/teacher
3. The mass media/ media personnel or journalists
4. The peer group/peers
5. The community/ elders and opinion leaders
6. Organisation.
7. Religious institutions/ pastors and imams

1. THE HOME/FAMILY/PARENTS AND SIBLINGS

The home is the child's first contact with the world. It is in the home that parents and older
siblings transmit the language, culture and values of the society to the child to enable him
become a responsible and acceptable member of the society. A child's behaviour in the larger
community at a later date is therefore, determined by the training he receives at home.
THE ROLES OF THE FAMILY IN THE SOCIALISATION PROCESS
The following are the roles of the family in the socialisation process:
1. Provision of physical needs of the child
For effective socialization of the individual, there is the need for the parents to provide him
his physical needs, which include food, clothing and shelter. When a child is provided with
these basic needs, he does not go wayward. The basic needs also ensure good health and
proper growth of the child. With the provision of the basic needs therefore, the child will
become responsible at this stage and later in life.
2. Provision of character and moral education
Parents will ensure effective socialisation of the child, if they provide him with training, that
will enable the child to have a good character and become morally upright. This character and
moral training will have the needed impact, if parents ensure that the child abides by the code
of discipline established in the home. Parents are expected to use the reward and punishment
method. They should also lead exemplary lives, as the child sees them as role models.
3. Providing a sense of security and belonging
The child will be properly socialised by feeling secured in his environment. There is
therefore, the need for the family, especially, the parents to provide him with conditions that
will make him feel secured and emotionally stable. Parents should give love and affection to
the child and this will be enough to assure the child that there are people who will support
him in times of need.
4. Protection of child from undesirable influence
Since peer groups impact greatly on the child, there is the need for parents to protect their
child from bad influences. For this to be effective, parents must make sure that the child does
not associate himself with friends who will introduce him to social vices such as stealing,
pick-pocketing, prostitution and rape, by continually educating and advising him on the
repercussions of these social vices.
5. Provision of domestic/occupational training
Parents must teach and provide opportunities for the child to learn the basic skills for earning
a livelihood, to enable him fit very well in the society. To achieve this, parents must expose
the child to household activities such as, cooking, washing and cleaning and a variety of
vocations: sewing, baking, basketry, and masonry, out of which he or she selects one and
engages in it to earn a living.
6. Inculcating the need for co-operation
The family should help the child to understand the need to co-operate and interact with others
in the family and the society at large. This can be achieved when the child is made to share
his things and to do things in common with other children.
7. Transmission of culture
The family constitutes the basic unit for imparting the cultural heritage of the society to the
child. Family members must teach the child the traditional values, norms and tenets of
society, so that, the child will conform to these, to become a responsible member of the
society. The child should also be taught to learn to appreciate the culture of society.
WHY THE FAMILY IS FAILING TO SOCIALIZE THE CHILD
The following factors have undermined the efforts of the family to socialize the child:
1. Financial Constraints/Economic pressures
One of the social cankers that have undermined the efforts of parents to ensure proper
socialization of the child is poverty. Poverty compels parents to ask their children to cater for
their own needs. When these children go against the standards set in the home to regulate
their behaviour, the parents lack the moral courage to call them to order.
 2. Demands of jobs
The demands of modern day jobs take parents away from home for long hours. When parents
go to offices or go to the market to engage in economic activities, they leave the child in the
care of an inexperienced house-help who knows next to nothing about the upbringing of
children. The house-help cannot impart proper values to the child.
3. Broken homes/Single parenting
Broken homes also seriously affect the ability of parents to socialise the child. The single
parenting, that results from broken homes, does not allow parents to ensure the proper
upbringing of the child. This is because the single parent may not have enough money and
time to cater for the needs of the child and impart societal values to him.
4. Breakdown of traditional family system
The breakdown of the extended family system has also contributed to the inability of parents
to socialize the child properly. This is because with the adoption of the nuclear family
system, the child is denied the training that he should receive from older cousins, uncles,
aunts and grandparents. It is noted that, one of the reasons why there are many children on
the streets today is the breakdown of the extended family system.
5. Influence of the media
The work of the family to impart good social and moral values to the child is made much
more difficult today, because of the influence of the media. The media exposes the child to
issues that are contrary to the values they learn at home.
6. Peer group influence
Peer group influence is another factor that has rendered the family incapable of socialising
the child properly. The parents of a child may try to impact good social values to the child,
but the child who comes under the influence of his peers will want to copy the values of his
peer group. This makes it impossible for the values transmitted by the family to have the
needed impact on the child.
7. Infiltration of foreign culture
The infiltration of western lifestyles in the Ghanaian society has made it difficult for the
family to socialise the child. The introduction of video, computer and the internet systems has
exposed the child to scenes of pornography, violence and criminal activities and these have
tended to influence the child, as he copies the things he sees on videos, computer and
internet.
2. THE SCHOOL/TEACHER
The school is an institution that has been established by society to transmit its culture to the
younger members, to enable them acquire skills, values and attitudes, that will make them
contribute to the socio-economic development of the society. It is the teacher who ensures
that the child acquires the right knowledge, attitudes, values and skills. He helps to mould the
character of the child through lessons in Social Studies, Cultural Studies and Religious and
Moral studies.
ROLE OF THE SCHOOL IN THE SOCIALISATION PROCESS
The following are the role of the school in the socialisation process:
1. Transmission of culture
As said earlier, the school has been established by society to transmit its cultural heritage to
its younger members, so that, they can imbibe the values and norms, that will make them
become responsible and acceptable members of society. The teacher does this through the
teaching of subjects like Social Studies, Cultural Studies and Religious and Moral studies.
2. Provision of academic knowledge
Apart from transmitting the culture of society through subjects like social studies, cultural
studies and religious studies, the school provides the child with academic knowledge to
broaden his mind. To achieve this, the teacher is tasked to teach subjects like the sciences, the
humanities and others. These subjects will develop the intellect of the child, making him a
valuable asset to society.
3. Provision of character and moral training
In addition to academic knowledge, the school provides the child with character and moral
training. The aim is to mould the personality of the child. In this, the teacher establishes a
code of discipline, as a way of regulating the behaviour of the child. The child faces sanctions
for non-compliance. Apart from this, the personality of the child is moulded through lessons
in social studies, cultural and religious studies.
4. Provision of occupational training
The school provides the child with occupational training by equipping him with vocational or
technical skills, that will enable the child get a job after school to earn a living. Occupational
training therefore, helps the child to better his conditions, preventing him from becoming a
burden to society.
5. Provision of sporting activities and games
The school, through its physical education programmes, ensures the good health of the child.
As the child engages in sporting activities such as, running, football, netball, table tennis,
basketball, he exercises his body and this promotes good health.
6. Inculcating values such as punctuality
The school inculcates such values as, punctuality to ensure the proper socialisation of the
child. The school's activities have been structured in a way that the child reports for school on
time, to attend assembly and other school gatherings. There is time for the beginning of
lessons and reporting time after break and all these help to develop the value of punctuality in
the child.
WHY THE SCHOOL IS FAILING TO SOCIALISE THE CHILD
The following factors have undermined the efforts of the school in socialisation process:
1. Laying more emphasis on academic knowledge
This is one of the major factors that has undermined the efforts of the school to socialise the
child. Though the school gives both academic and character or moral training, it lays more
emphasis on academic knowledge to the neglect of moral training. As a result, the child is not
able to develop positive attitudes and values to enable him fit very well in the society.
2. Inadequate qualified teachers
The school has not been able to socialise the child properly because there are few teachers for
the schools, especially, those in the rural areas. There are more pupil teachers in the system
and because they have not been trained, there is a problem with the socialisation process. In
addition, there is limited supply of teachers with vocational and technical skills and this
affects the occupational training of the child.
3. Inadequate infrastructure and materials
The socialisation process of the child has not been effective because most of the schools lack
proper accommodation for serious academic work. It is noted that, some children still attend
classes under trees. Moreover, materials like textbooks, science equipment are inadequate,
making teaching and learning difficult.
4. Overloaded curriculum
The child has not been properly socialised under the school system because the syllabus for
subjects is overloaded and in addition the child is required to offer many subjects within a
short period, especially, at the Junior Secondary School and Senior Secondary School levels.
The overloaded curriculum therefore, does not allow the child to assimilate properly what he
learns.
5. The influence of other agents of socialisation
No matter how hard the school tries to socialise the child, its efforts are undermined by the
influence of peers and the mass media. These agents impart values, that run counter to the
values imparted by the school. As a result, the child is not able to imbibe positive values that
will make him fit well in the society.
6. The influence of foreign culture
Western lifestyles have infiltrated the Ghanaian society to such an extent that the child will
want to copy western values that he has come into contact with, through videos, computers
and internet to the neglect of the values that have been imparted by the school.
3.THE MASS MEDIA
The mass media, both electronic and print, constitute a major agency that helps in the
socialisation process of the child. As the child watches television, listens to radio and reads
newspapers and magazines, he receives a lot of information, that changes his attitude and
perceptions and moulds his personality.
THE ROLE OF THE MASS MEDIA IN THE SOCIALISATION PROCESS
The following are the role of the mass media in socialisation process:
(i) Imparting knowledge to individuals
The various media houses such as television, radio, the print media as well as internet play an
effective role in the socialization process. They help people to acquire knowledge on personal
hygiene and sanitation, cultural values and norms, civic rights and responsibilities, family
planning, etc through their programmes like news, sports, movies, music and dance, reality
shows etc. These make people live responsible life in the country.
(ii) Dissemination of information
The mass media, in the socialization process, give information on events relating to political,
social. economic and cultural aspect of life of people in the country. They guide people to be
well informed especially on consequences of undesirable activities such as armed robbery,
drugs, prostitution, and pre-marital sex, etc for them to be positively transformed. People also
use information provided by mass media to get access to avenues to develop their talents.
(iii) Skill training
Media outlets also serve as training grounds for people to acquire skills or improve on their
occupational, vocational and domestic skills through their skilled-oriented programmes.
These include sports and other reality shows on television, radio, etc that help people to
develop their talents and potentials to become productive and useful in the society.
(iv)Entertainment
Mass media as an agency of socialization uses storytelling, traditional music and dance and
other cultural displays to entertain people and also make the youth appreciate Ghanaian
cultural values and identity. They help people to be relieved from boredom, loneliness, stress
and other emotional distress that can push them into undesirable places to find happiness
outside their home.
(v) Provision of Religious and moral teachings
Mass media as agency of socialization is also committed to religious and moral teachings and
character training. They impart lessons on truthfulness, honesty, respect for elders etc. They
help to improve the moral standard of people. For instance, the moral lessons in movies,
music and other religious lessons and preaching, etc on television, radio, etc help to discipline
and correct the wrong behaviours of people in Ghana.
(vi) Preservation of cultural heritage
Mass media as agency of socialization helps society to preserve its cultural elements for
future generations. For instance, traditional dressings, festivals, funeral celebration etc of
different ethnic groups are shown in movies through televisions and other fashion shows.
These make people re-visit their history and other cultural practices in the past to maintain
their cultural heritage and identity.
(vii)Ensuring social cohesion/national integration
Programs and documentaries on conflict, political/religious intolerance, destruction of lives
and properties in the history of Ghana and in other countries are broadcasted on television
and radio stations to give education to the public on national integration. Such programs are
shown to create awareness to the public against actions and behaviours of people that can
bring disunity in the country. Through the reporting, discussion and analysis of such
programs by the media, people learn. understand and appreciate the need to live together
peacefully by tolerating other people's views and behaviours irrespective of their ethnic,
political or religious differences.
(viii)Mobilization of people for work
Mass media such as television, radio, newspapers etc. are used to send information to people
needed to be assembled at a particular place. These people are called and mobilized through
the media for communal labour, workshops, social gathering and other activities.
(ix) Provision of public education
People get educated on social, economic, political and cultural issues that are of national
interest. Issues such as environmental degradation, teenage pregnancy, divorce, drug abuse
etc. are discussed on radio, television and newspapers about their causes, effects and how
they can be prevented. This creates public awareness and people who have little or no
knowledge and information about such issues are educated and positively changed.
WHY THE MASS MEDIA IS FAILING IN THE SOCIALISATION PROCESS
The following factors undermine the efforts of the media to socialise the child:
1. Exposing the child to pornography and profanity
The various radio and television stations broadcast programmes that portray pornography and
profanity. The radio stations play songs that contain profane lyrics. The television stations
show movies that are full of pornography. These programmes do not allow the child to
imbibe the good values they have learned from the other agencies and agents of socialization.
2. Exposing the child to criminal activities
The programmes of the mass media, especially, the television expose the child to violence
and criminal activities. The various television stations show movies with scenes of violence
and criminal activities. The individual who watches these films are influenced to copy the
things he or she sees in the films, hence the high rate of stealing, mobile phone snatching and
armed robbery in Ghana.
3. Fanning of ethnic and political sentiments
The media publish and broadcast articles, programmes etc which often pitch one ethnic or
political group against the other(s). This creates ethnic and political intolerance and
unnecessary tension which have negative impact on the nation's development. A classical
example is the 1994 Genocide in Rwanda.
4. THE PEER GROUP/PEERS
The peer group is an association of individuals who are equal or of the same age. It is one of
the most significant agencies in the socialisation process of the child, because the child
spends most of his time with his peers. He or she wants to attach himself or herself to his or
her peers more than his or her parents and because of this, the child receives a lot of influence
from his or her peers. He or she learns the values and norms of the group and these mould the
personality of the child.
ROLE OF THE PEER GROUP IN THE SOCIALISATION PROCESS
The following are the role of the peer group in socialisation process:
1. Developing team work and co-operation
one of the major roles that the peer group plays is to develop team work and co-operation in
its members. This is seen in the fact that peers are always together and they help one another
in the things that they do.
2. Assisting the child in his studies
This is another major role that is played by peer groups. Members who are weak in school
subjects are assisted by members who are academically good to overcome their problems.
3. Formation of social clubs
Peer groups can also form social clubs that will enable members spend their leisure time
profitably. They can engage in productive activities, such as tree planting, general cleaning,
organising debates and dramas and all these activities will have a positive impact on the
child.
4. Protection of members
The peer group protects the child who is a member from physical harm, threats and danger.
Members of the peer group are prepared to lend support to any member who finds himself in
trouble with other people.
5. Teaching of gender roles
The peer group influences the child by teaching the child masculine and feminine social
roles, that is, the role he or she performs as a boy or girl and the future role he or she will
have to perform as a man or woman or as a father or mother. For example, the males in a
group may undertake a hunting expedition and give the meat to the females to prepare food
for them.
6. Provision of emotional needs
The peer group socialises the child by ensuring that he is shown the needed sympathy,
affection and love by members of the group. It also provides understanding and acceptance
for the child. This is to ensure the emotional stability of the members when they are bereaved
or sick.
7. Provision of free interaction among members
The peer group socialises the child by providing the grounds for free interaction among
members, in which the child can interact freely with members of the peer groups by taking
pat in the discussion of issues concerning the group, and express his views and opinions
about issues in an informal way, thereby boosting his confidence.
8. Teaching a set of moral standards
The peer group socialises the child by providing an avenue for him to learn a set of moral
standards, which will enable him relate very cordial with individuals of similar age. These
moral standards help the child to shape his character and mould his personality.
9. Giving support to the individual
The peer group socialises the child by giving him the needed support to enable him become
independent of his or her parents and other adults so that, he or she can take certain decisions
concerning himself or herself.
10. Offering opportunity for language development
The peer group socialises the child by providing the grounds for him to develop language.
Since the child spends most of his time with his peers and takes part in interactions among
peer group members, he is able to develop his language thereby promoting effective
communication among them.
WHY THE PEER GROUP IS FAILING TO SOCIALISE THE CHILD
The following factors undermine the peer group in socialisation process of the child:
1. Inculcation of bad habits
Many peer groups inculcate into their members bad habits. They introduce their members to
such negative acts as, stealing, truancy, prostitution, drug abuse, rape, homosexuality,
lesbianism among others.
2. Misdirection of members
The peer group misdirects members in the offering of subjects at school. An individual who
is very good in the humanities can be influenced by his peers to offer the sciences, which he
may find very difficult.
5. THE COMMUNITY/ELDERS AND OPINION LEADERS
The community like all other agencies also performs major responsibilities in the
socialisation process of the child. Elders and opinion leaders help to mould the personality of
the child. They teach the child the norms and values of the society. They also teach the child
the do's and don'ts of the society, so that, he can be integrated into the society.
ROLE OF THE COMMUNITY IN THE SOCIALISATION PROCESS
The community performs the following functions to ensure a proper socialisation of the child:
1. Transmission of culture
The community as a socialising agency transmits the cultural heritage of the people to the
individual. The elders and opinion leaders through naming, festivals and funeral rites teach
the child the values, norms and tenets of the society, so that, the child will exhibit such
tendencies as: respect for the elderly, honesty, kindness etc making him or her an acceptable
member o
society.
2. Provision of character and moral training
The community complements the effort of the family in providing character and moral
training to the child. Community elders and opinion leaders teach the child the dos and don'ts
of society and expect the child to conform to these. The child is sanctioned if he or she fails
to comply with these societal principles.
3. Provision of a sense of security and belonging
The community like the family also provides the child with a sense of security and belonging.
Since the child develops the feeling that there will be a greater number of people who will
support him in times of need, he feels secured in his environment. He therefore, becomes
emotionally stable.

6. RELIGIOUS INSTITUTIONS/PASTORS AND IMAMS

The influence of religious institutions such as the church and the mosque is very crucial in
moulding the character and personality of the individual. The church and the mosque do this
through the preaching of the word of God to the congregation by pastors and Imams.
THE ROLE OF THE CHURCH OR MOSQUE IN THE SOCIALISATION PROCESS
The following are the role of the church or mosque in socialisation process:
1. Provision of moral and character training
One of the major roles performed by the church or mosque is to provide members with moral
training. These religious institutions have established Godly principles which believers are
expected to conform to, in order to better their lives. These principles ensure the moral
uprightness of believers, making them lead exemplary lives.
2. Provision of a sense of security and belonging
Religious institutions like the family and community provide the individual with a sense of
security and belonging. The large number of members of a church or mosque enables the
individual to feel secured in his or her environment, because of the feeling that many people
will be around to support him or her in times of need.
3. Inculcating the need for co-operation
Religious institutions, like other agencies of socialisation, inculcate in the members, the habit
of co-operating with one another. The church, for instance, ensures this by impressing upon
the congregation to become members of the various groups in the churches. These groups are
the Bible Study and Prayers, Men and Women Fellowships, Young People's Guild, where
they have close interaction among members.
7. ORGANISATIONS
Organisations such as Boys' scouts, Girls' Guide, Virgins' club and others also mould the
personality of the individual. These organisations have established codes of discipline to
regulate the behaviour of their members, and as the individual conforms to these disciplinary
measures, he develops the habit of leading an exemplary life. The individual becomes
responsible and well-integrated in the society.
IMPORTANCE OF SOCIALIZATION TO THE SOCIETY
i. Helps to maintain the norms and values of a society
Socialization helps to impart norms and social values to the young generators for them to live
a sound moral life. This is achieved through the role of agencies such as school, family,
church/mosque, etc. For instance, the school teaches young people lessons and topics on
morality through R.M.E, social studies etc. The family also inculcates moral values in
children and disciplines those who misbehave in the family. All these help children to
maintain respect and obedience to elderly people, live honest and God-fearing life to become
responsible youth in the society.
ii. Helps in the development of the personality of an individual
Socialization helps to develop the character and other qualities that make an individual what
he is as distinct from other people in the society. For instance, the family gives names to
people to be identified in the society. The school develops the intellectual abilities of the
individual to help him solve problems of life and the society. The character, interest and
capabilities of the individual are also positively developed by school, family, church etc to
become useful person in the society.
iii. Prepares a person to fit well into a society
Socialization prepares an individual to fit well into a society. The individual is equipped with
cultural values such as respect, tolerance and other social etiquettes like greetings etc at
home, school and community. The individual is also imparted with the customs, attitudes and
practices of the society to become socially responsible in the society.
iv. Socialization gives one a sense of identity/sense of belongingness
Socialization serves as a source of identity to the individual. Through the family and the
organisation of cultural festivals, funerals and other practices in the community, the
individual is linked to a name and certain pattern of behaviour that are commonly shared by
group of people in a society. The individual is also introduced to the traditional food, dress,
music and dance of the society. These help to give him identity and distinguish him from
other societies or nations.
v. Helps to achieve national integration, unity and social solidarity
Socialization helps to bring together all individuals and various cultural units into one
common society. For instance, the cultural festivals and other traditional practices that are
celebrated in the community and transmitted to the new generations bring people together as
one nation. The singing of patriotic songs such as “yen ara yen asaase nie”, the national
anthem as well as the national pledge helps to impart values and virtues in the youth and
promote national unity and solidarity in the society.
vi. Helps to reduce the state of frustration or rejection among individuals
Socialization helps an individual to overcome emotional problems in the society. For
instance, the family, church and school agencies of socialization serve as the sources of
affection, sympathy and encouragement for the child. Through them, frustration and rejection
among people are reduced.
vii. Minimizes deviant behaviour in the society
Another way socialization is important to the society is that when it is effectively carried out
by parents, teachers, peers, etc it minimizes deviant behaviours in the society. For instance,
the school, family and religious institutions expose the youth to moral values and norms in
the society for them to live a sound moral life. Individuals are also disciplined and punished
by teachers, parents, policemen, etc when they misbehave in the society.
viii. Enables the individual to participate in the activities of the society or environment
The individual is encouraged to participate in the activities of the society through the
socialization process. For instance, through socialization the culture of patriotism is imparted
to the youth. This encourages them to participate effectively in communal services in the
society. The youth are also encouraged to participate in cultural programmes such festivals,
funeral rites, naming ceremony, etc to learn the customs, traditions and values in the society.
SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT
The social environment refers to the kind of social climate or inter-personal relationships that
exist in a given community or developed by a group of people, guided by certain principles,
norms and tenets. It harmonises the actions of the people.
FACTORS THAT HINDER THE PROMOTION OF BETTER INTER-PERSONAL
RELATIONSHIPS
Human beings are sociable in nature but individual interests conflict with group interests
through the following:
i. Selfishness
Selfishness is one of the major factors that hinder the promotion of better inter-personal
relationships and it is where the individual thinks only about himself and does not care about
other individuals. Such an individual is self-centred and will want to have everything without
thinking about others. This behaviour will not be accepted by others, who may try to oppose
the individual.
ii. Suspicion
Suspicion is another major factor that hinders the promotion of better inter-personal
relationships. Suspicion is a feeling of distrust and it is where members of a community do
not trust one another. There will never be peace in the community, as individuals' interests
conflict with group interests.
iii. Greed
Greed also hampers the promotion of inter-personal relationships. Greed is when an
individual develops a strong wish to have more things, power and money than he needs.
Individuals who are therefore greedy are not liked by other individuals. This creates tension
and antagonism in the community.
iv. Envy
Envy is when the individual has the unhappy feeling of wanting to have or possess what
others have. This feeling will bring conflict in the community, because the individual may
resort to bad methods of acquiring the things that he desires.
DEFINITION OF TERMS/CONCEPTS
Interest
Interest refers to something that a group of people or individual aspires to acquire.
Group Interest
Group interest is the desire cherished by either a majority of people in a community or their
representatives.
Individual Interest
Individual interest refers to the desires cherished by the individual.

HOW TO PROMOTE OR MAINTAIN GROUP INTEREST IN THE COMMUNITY

To promote a better social environment in Ghana for group living, the following may be
essential:
1. Educating the people
Education is the major means of promoting group living and better social life. Education,
both formal and informal enables the individual to have a better understanding of issues.
Through education, individuals become abreast with modern trends. They eschew tendencies
such as ethnocentrism, because it is argued that the higher one climbs the educational ladder,
the less tribally inclined one becomes.
2. Establishing social institutions
For the promotion of group living, social institutions such as the police, the law courts and
the prisons must be established. The police will call to order all breakers of the law, the court
will try all suspects involved in criminal activities and all those who are found guilty are sent
to prison to be confined, to prevent the repetition of crimes and also to serve as a deterrent to
others.
3. Honouring deserving citizens
Society must honour all citizens who have distinguished themselves and have contributed to
the socio-economic development of the nation. This honour will motivate such people to
always make themselves available for the national cause, and it will also whip up the
enthusiasm in others, to contribute to the socio-economic development of the nation for the
benefit of all.
4. There should be fair and equitable distribution of wealth
Group living can also be promoted when the wealth of the nation is fairly and equitably
distributed. This will ensure the socio-economic development and the improvement in the
standard of living of every community in the country, to minimise social problems such as
nepotism, tribalism and corruption.
5. Respecting the rights of individuals
For effective group living, individuals must not infringe upon the rights of other individuals.
Rather, they must respect the rights of individuals, such that these individuals will also
respect their rights. This will enhance good social life, devoid of rancour (bitterness, hatred
resentment)
WAYS OF IMPROVING THE SOCIAL ENVIRONMENT IN YOUR COUNTRY.
i. Practice culture of tolerance
As a measure to improve social environment, individuals and leaders of Ghana should learn
to accept and appreciate views, opposing views and ways of life of other people to bring
unity and harmonious living in Ghana. The practice of culture of tolerance helps to
accommodate people irrespective of their nature. It helps to control temperament and manage
differences in life situations to build peace.
ii. Practice of fairness and justice
In order to improve social environment in Ghana, there should be fairness and justice in
accessing court hearing and in distributing national resources and wealth among people in the
country. People should not be discriminated against on the grounds of gender, status, ethnic
background, colour in areas of education, employment, promotion, appointment to positions
etc. This help to promote harmonious living in the country.
iii. Efficient law enforcement system
The police and other security agencies that are responsible to maintain peace and ensure
maximum security in the country must be adequately empowered with apparatus and
logistics. These enable them exercise their day-to-day activities diligently in defending,
protecting and preventing undesirable behaviours that pose threats in the country. The
country must also give motivation to security agents to work wholeheartedly to maintain laws
and orders to improve social environment in the country.
iv. Existence of conflict resolution institution
Institutions such as peace council, law courts, social welfare and other conflict resolution
institutions in the country should be empowered with adequate logistics, competent
personnel. These help the institutions to settle conflicts and improve interactions and
relationships among people. Efficient services of these institutions will help to minimize
hatred, unforgiving attitudes and chaos in the country.
v. Consensus building
People should learn to relax their principles and practices when necessary to ensure amicable
settlement of issues that are potential to divide relationships or society. They should not take
entrenched positions when issues are known to escalate but, rather, meet each other half way
to settle differences. People must appreciate to pardon and forgive others who wrong them to
promote unity and improve social environment.
vi. Citizenship education / public education
NCCE, CHRAJ, WAJU, Social Welfare Department, etc must design programmes and
policies to protect and educate people on their constitutional rights and responsibilities in the
county. These can be done in churches, schools, media houses etc. Through this, people
would appreciate about the need to respect the rights of other persons in the country to ensure
peaceful and good interrelationships.
vii. Adherence to social standards
To improve social environment, people must learn to conform to the social values and norms
cherished by people in the country to improve interrelationships and harmonious living in the
country. They must be self-disciplined, law-abiding, respectful etc people to maintain peace
and unity in the society.
viii. Discouraging ethnocentrism
Words, actions, expressions and behaviours, etc that are potential to downplay the culture of
others must be discouraged in the country. This will help to minimize perceptions and wrong
judgements people form about other ethnic groups in the country to prevent the tendency of
disrupting the existing national unity and togetherness.
FACTORS THAT CAN PROMOTE BETTER INTERPERSONAL RELATIONSHIP
IN THE GHANAIAN COMMUNITY
i. Tolerance of divergent views
As a measure to promote better interpersonal relationship in the Ghanaian community,
individuals are expected to accept and appreciate opposing views and ways of life of other
people. They should learn to control their temperaments and manage their egos or differences
with other people. This will enable them accommodate other people irrespective of their
nature to foster unity and harmonious living in the country.
ii. Peaceful co-existence and peaceful way of settling disputes.
Peaceful way of settling disputes in a community also helps to promote interpersonal
relationship. In view of this, institutions such as traditional council, law court and social
welfare that serve as conflict resolution centres in the country must function as bodies for
unity and social cohesion. They must be independent, firm and fair and free from biases when
discharging their duties. This will help them settle disputes in a peaceful way to minimize
hatred and unforgiving spirit that tend to affect peaceful co-existence among people.
iii. Discouraging ethnocentrism in the community
To promote interpersonal relationship, the practice of ethnocentrism must be discouraged in
the Ghanaian community. People must be sensitized to desist from using expressions, actions
or displaying behaviours that are potential to undermine the culture of other ethnic groups.
Every culture and cultural practice in the country must be respected by all irrespective of
people's cultural background to foster unity and harmonious living among people.
iv. Respecting social norms and values
Good interpersonal relationship can be promoted if people accept to conform to the social
values and norms cherished in the Ghanaian communities. People must be self-disciplined,
law abiding, respectful, honest and adhere to social standards of society to promote peaceful
co-existence among others in the country.
v. Respecting the rights of others
People must appreciate the need to respect the rights of others in the country. These rights
include right to own property, right to life, right to personal liberty, right to work and earn a
living etc. The practice of this will prevent vulnerable people in the society from being
intimidated, deprived of their own belongings or suffer physical and verbal abuses. Through
this, people will live in harmony to foster better interpersonal relationship in the Ghanaian
communities.
DEVIANT BEHAVIOUR
Deviant behaviour can be explained as a repulsive, absurd or any kind of human behaviour
that does not conform to the social norms, values, practices of the society. It includes
homosexuality, armed robbery, drug abuse, etc.
CAUSES OF DEVIANT BEHAVIOUR
(i) Influence of mass media
The aspect of uncontrolled programs on televisions such as pornographic movies expose the
youth to copy undesirable behaviours, activities and lifestyles like armed robbery, drugs,
lesbianism, indecent dressing, etc. They copy these practices unconsciously and tend to put
them into practice
(ii) Urbanization
The growth of urbanization exposes people to many lifestyles. places, people of different
cultural backgrounds, etc. It influences people to copy and practise undesirable activities such
as clubbing Forming gangs, drinking of alcohol, smoking of wee, indecent dressing, etc.
(iii) Broken home / Lack of parental control
Marriage separation or divorce causes the growth of deviant behaviours in the country. As a
result of divorce, the effective roles that are supposed to be played by mothers and fathers
collectively become disrupted. It makes divorced parents develop hatred to each other which
greatly affects the positive elements of parenting. The situation pushes children away from
home to join friends for love and care. They also engage in street activities and services such
as armed robbery prostitution, drugs peddling and other menial jobs to earn money to survive.
(iv). Economic hardship /poverty
Economic hardships make people resort to undesirable activities like prostitution, drug
peddling, pre-marital sex, armed robbery, homosexuality, etc. as presumably their last hope
to earn for survival.
(v) Frustrations
Frustrations and other failures in life make people lose self-control and resort to undesirable
behaviours that do not conform to the norms and values of the society. For instance, people
who are rejected by their trusted partners or have lost their loved friends or family member
mostly find pleasure and comfort in drinking alcohol or smoking 'wee', etc. to overcome the
psychological and emotional distress.
(vi) Negative socialization
Children also copy irresponsible lifestyles and attitude of their parents and other adults in the
society which makes them socially deviants. For instance, parents who drink alcohol, smoke
'wee', etc. expose their vulnerable children to such social deviances and tend to copy from
them. Most parents also practically persuade, condone and praise their children to practise
irresponsible lifestyles and activities in the society.
(vii) Desire for material things
People who have strong desires and interests in possessing cars, houses and material things
tend to engage in illicit means such as armed robbery, prostitution, stealing, homosexuality
and other social deviances in the country in order to get enough money to satisfy their
desires.
(viii) ignorance
Most people drink alcohol, smoke marijuana and engage in pre-marital sex out of ignorance
and curiosity. They have accepted the practices to relieve pain, build confidence, overcome
frustration and emotional pressures in life without knowing the health implications like
madness, unwanted pregnancy and stigmatization attached to them.
(ix) Unemployment
Unemployment also leads people to become social deviants. An individual who is not
employed will become poor and in order to keep body and soul together, he is left with no
other option than to engage in immoral practices such as armed robbery, stealing, prostitution
and others to make a living
EFFECTS OF DEVIANT BEHAVIOUR ON THE SOCIETY
i. Breakdown of laws and order
The existence of deviant behaviours like prostitution, examinations malpractices etc. strongly
oppose against the laws, customs, traditions and orders that regulate behaviours of people in
the country. Such behaviours lead to destruction of property, human life and disorganize
orderly life of people in a country. The high number of these behaviours poses a serious
threat to break down existing laws and orders in the country to make human life
uncontrollable.
ii. Leads to insecurity
The kind of environment deviant behaviours create put fear, panic and emotional imbalance
in the minds of vulnerable people in the society. They impose threat, risks and dangers of
rape, serial killing and destruction of properties in a country. These affect the free movement
of people, restrict daily activities of people and drive away foreign investors which tend to
decrease the productivity of the society.
iii. Leads to strained family relationship/Ostracism/Neglect of family ties
Deviant behaviours are strongly opposed by people of Ghana. People who portray such
characters are not given parental love, care and support and are largely neglected by friends,
family members as well as the society. They are regarded as bad influences on innocent
people. Parents disown, reject and distant themselves from such deviant children which in
turn disrupts the existing family relationship.
iv. Leads to diversion of National Resources/Retards development
The threats deviant people impose on people in a society force the government to divert state
resources meant for development of other sectors to beef up security agencies in the country.
Individuals and other organizations also volunteer their time, energy etc. to serve as
watchdogs to support the security agencies to curb the menace. These make productivity and
development of other sectors of the country deeply affected.
v. Drives investors away from the country
The general insecurity posed by deviant people drive both foreign and domestic investors
away from this country. They lose confidence, trust and feel insecure to invest their capital in
an environment where people's property are persistently destroyed, people's life humiliated,
abused and killed by armed robbers, drug users etc. The situation increases security cost in
the business settings and makes investors discontinue or relocate their production firms.
vi. Leads to health risks/Problems
A society with many deviant people such as armed robbers, homosexuals, alcoholic and
drugs users, etc. produce mentally unstable people and people with STD's, heart disorders,
etc. This reduces the quality of people and human resources needed to solve political, social,
economic and religious problems in the country.
vii. Signs of weakness of the state law enforcement agencies
The widespread of deviant activities and persistent maltreatment of people in a country send a
Signal that the state security and law enforcement agencies like police, law court, prison
service, etc. are not discharging their duties diligently. They become exposed for public
concern and put pressure on the state to re-strategies and revamp their services, tools,
logistics, etc. to make them effective in their performances.
MEASURES TO CONTROL DEVIANT BEHAVIOUR
The following are some measures that can be adopted to control deviant behaviour in the
society:
1. Efficient law enforcement systems:
To check deviant behaviour, the law enforcement agencies such as the police, courts, prisons
and borstal homes should be well equipped to perform their duties effectively. The police are
expected to arrest law breakers and prosecute them. The courts impose punishment on people
who break the laws of society, the prison serves as an institution for confining people
sentenced by the courts, and the borstal homes are correctional homes for juvenile
delinquents.
2. Provision of guidance and counselling:
To control deviant behaviour, there is the need to establish guidance and counseling offices in
the various schools and communities. The guidance coordinator in schools will assist and
advise students to choose appropriate courses so that they will not regret and become
frustrated later in life. The community guidance coordinator will assist members of the
community to solve their personal problems.
3. Encouraging religious and moral education:
For effective control of deviants in the schools, moral and religious education should be
given prominence in the curriculum of schools. This emphasis will help the students to
appreciate the relevance of societal norms and values for their well being. They will therefore
try to live in conformity with the standards set by society.
4. Better example and leadership by the older generation
Since the youth see adults as role models and aspire to be like them, adults in the society
should lead exemplary lives so that they could steer the youth away from engaging in
immoral practices.
5. Good parental care and control of the youth
Parents will be doing a great service to the youth to prevent them from engaging in immoral
practices if they are responsible and provide their children with their needs. Parents who are
capable of catering for the needs of their children adequately can control their children. They
can apply corrective measures when the children act contrary to the standards set.
6. Control of the media
To check deviant behaviour in society, the media, both electronic and the print, should be
controlled by an independent constitutional body. The programs and the publications of the
various radio and television stations and newspapers and magazines should be censored to rid
them of pornographic and violent elements.
7. Enforcement of discipline in schools
Deviant behaviour can be controlled if school authorities ensure that students adhere to
school rules and regulations. Students who breach these rules and regulations should be
punished to prevent the repetition of their actions and to serve as a deterrent to others.
Discipline will thus, shape the lives of students to become responsible adults.
8. Provision or employment
some people engage in immoral activities because they do not have a job that will earn them
a living, the government should provide them with jobs, and when they are provided with the
jobs, they will not engage in immoral practices.
9. Provision of social welfare
Social welfare services should be provided for children whose parents are divorced or are
financially constrained and are therefore, found on the street to prevent them from joining
gangs, which will introduce them to criminal activities. The children should be provided with
food, shelter and education.
SOCIAL CONTROL MEASURES IN THE TRADITIONAL SOCIETY TO CHECK
DEVIANT BEHAVIOUR
The following are social control measures in the traditional society:
1. Ritual Sanctions
Ritual sanctions are one of the major social control measures in traditional Ghana
banishment. One of such ritual sanctions is trial by ordeal, where the individual accused of an
offence is made to go through certain inhuman treatment to prove his innocence. Example,
putting his hand in a blazing fire. Another is the fear of punishment from the gods and
ancestors and the other is taboo which forbids the people to do certain things.
2. Banishment
Banishment is another major social control measure in traditional Ghanaian society. Social
deviants such as people who engage in pre-marital sex, rapists, murderers and others and
destooled chiefs and their supporters are banished from their communities. They are sent into
exile because their presence in the community is seen as a threat to the peace of society.
3. Traditional courts of chiefs.
The traditional court of chiefs settles cases and try people accused of crimes. It does this
through arbitration, reconciliation etc. in line with the norms and practices of the society. The
Guilty party or parties are made to pay fines or compensation, depending on the gravity of the
offence to the community, the offended party or the gods.
4. Family heads and Clan heads
This is where the lifestyles of individuals come under the scrutinous eyes of family heads and
clan heads who establish code of discipline to regulate the behaviour of members. sanctions
are imposed on family members who do not live up to expectation.
5. Gossiping and songs of ridicule.
Gossiping and songs of ridicule also serve as social control measures in traditional societies
in Ghana. Gossips are made and songs of ridicule are sung to embarrass social deviants such
as prostitutes, thieves, and rapists. This kind of social control measure is adopted for such
social deviants to put a stop to their nefarious activities.
6. Pawning-Slavery
Pawning or slavery is a social control measure in traditional Ghana, in which social deviants
who pose a threat to the family and society are sold into slavery to work for people. The
wages supposed to be paid to them are paid to their families. They remain in slavery till such
a time that members of their families will be convinced that they have had a change of heart.
MEASURES TO MAKE THE POLICE SERVICE EFFECTIVE
The personnel of the Ghana police service will be made effective and efficient through the
following measures:
1. Adequate remuneration and improved conditions of service
For the effective and efficient discharge of their duties, police personnel must be given
adequate salaries. Moreover, the conditions of service must be improved. They should be
provided with adequate pension. Better salaries and improved pension will boost the morale
of the police officers and urge them to discharge their duties to the expectation of the public.
2. Recruitment must take into account the population of the country
Police personnel will discharge their duties more effectively and efficiently if in recruitment,
the authorities take into consideration the population of the country. This will ensure effective
coverage and policing. As the ratio of police personnel to the population improves, they will
be made more effective to make law and order.
3. Adequate financial resources for development
Since the police service is one of the organisations that are poorly housed, their morale is
always low. To boost the morale of the personnel to work effectively and efficiently, there is
the need for the government to collaborate with other organisations to provide the service
with adequate finances for the expansion and improvement of the police barracks, training
institutions and offices.
4. Improving the poor transportation conditions
Police personnel will be more mobile to discharge their duties effectively and efficiently, if
they are provided with such vehicles as, pick-ups, patrol vans and ambulances. These
vehicles will enable the personnel move to areas to control crimes and handle accidents
effectively and efficiently.
5. Formal and in-service training
Police personnel will be made more effective and efficient, if they are provided with formal
and in-service training. They should be given scholarships to study in local and foreign
institutions. In-service programs must also be provided to enable the personnel be abreast
with modern techniques of combating crimes.
6. The use of modern technology
For effective and efficient discharge of their duties, police personnel should be provided with
modern equipment for effective control and crime detection. These equipments are detectors,
cameras, mobile phones, videos and internet systems.
WAYS BY WHICH THE POLICE MAINTAIN LAW AND ORDER IN THE STATE
The following are the ways by which the police maintain law and order in the state:

1. Arresting suspected criminals

A major way by which the police maintain law and order and ensure the peace of society is to
arrest and detain all people who are accused or suspected to have engaged in criminal
activities such as armed robbery, stealing, pick-pocketing and others.
2. crowd control at political and social gatherings
Another major way by which the police maintain law and order in society is to control the
crowd at political party rallies so that, people will not cause confusion to disturb the peace of
society. The police also control the crowd when there is a demonstration by individuals to
ensure that protesters do not destroy public properties and assets.
3. Prosecuting suspected law-breakers in court
The police maintain law and order in society by preferring charges against people suspected
of engaging in criminal activities and proving that such people are guilty of the crimes in a
court of law.
4. Protecting life and property
The police maintain law and order in a state by protecting the life and property of citizens and
non citizens. The police ensure that no one loses his life or his property when the peace of the
state is threatened in situations of public demonstrations, civil strifes, ethnic conflicts and
others by undertaking regular patrol to ensure prompt action. Example is the Peace Keeping
operation by the police at Bawku.
5. Detecting and investigating cases
The police maintain law and order in a state by trying to find out'all the details or facts about
cases pending before them, in order to discover who or what caused the problems or how
they happened. This investigation will help them prefer charges against criminals and prove
these charges in a court of law. Good investigations promote justice, law and order which are
necessary for development.
6. Public education
Public education has been one of the major ways by which the people maintain law and order
in the state. The police mount educational campaigns to sensitise the general public to see the
need to ensure peace in society so that individuals can carry out their activities without
intimidation. It also helps in fostering good police-public relations.
7. Offering incentives to people who expose criminals
The police maintain law and order in a state by giving rewards to people who volunteer
information about criminals and their hide-outs. The police use these rewards which often
include money to encourage people to provide credible information leading to the arrest of
criminals and expose their hide-out.
8. Enforcing traffic regulations
The police maintain law and order on roads and highways by making sure that drivers.
pedestrians and others abide by traffic regulation. The presence of the police on the roads
help in ensuring free movement of vehicle as it deters road-users from flouting the
regulations especially in densely populated cities.
9. Regular in-service training for its personnel
The police maintain law and order in society by organising regular in- service training in the
form of seminars and workshops for police personnel to upgrade and update their skills to
enable them become abreast of modern ways of policing that is, combating criminal
activities, arresting law offenders and prosecuting them, investigations and others.
10. Settling of disputes/Arbitration
The police maintain law and order in the state by bringing together disputing parties and
settling their differences through arbitration where necessary especially in cases of child
maintenance and protection.
MEASURES TO MAKE PRISONS BETTER REFORMATIVE HOMES
To make the country's prisons better reformative homes for inmates, there is the need
for the following:
1. Provision of adequate logistics and materials for effective vocational training
One of the reasons why people are sent to prison is to reform them, and as part of the
reformation package, they undergo vocational training programs. To make these programs
effective to give the prisoners the needed skills, the government and corporate organzation
should provide logistics and materials such as sewing machines, ovens, dyers, leather, shoe
making machines, etc.
2. Provision of religious and moral education
As part of the reformation package, inmates of the various prisons should be provided with
religious and moral education to enable them change their ways. To this end, renowned men
of God should be invited to the country's prisons to preach the word of God to the inmates.
3. Provision of guidance and counselling
The government should establish guidance and counselling offices and employ permanent
officers to guide and assist prisoners to solve their personal problems. Counselling should
emphasis the importance of rights and freedom to the well-being of the inmates and the
society.
4. Protecting the fundamental human rights of prisoners
Despite the fact that prisoners are facing incarceration, they should not be denied their
fundamental human rights. Prison authorities should ensure that the prisoners are not
subjected to inhuman treatment. They should not be discriminated against on the grounds of
ethnicity, religion, sex and age. They should enjoy their rights to life and human dignity.
5. Rehabilitation of the physical structures in prison
The fact that the prisoners are facing various prison sentences does not mean that they should
live in deplorable conditions. This therefore, suggests that the physical structures of the
prisons including the main building, sleeping rooms, places of convenience should be
rehabilitated to improve the living conditions of prisoners.
6. Provision of required social amenities
The prisoners should be provided with amenities such as health and recreational facilities.
The government should build clinics in the prisons to cater for the health needs of the
prisoners, to ensure that they are always healthy. They should also be provided recreational
facilities such as ludo, draught, 'oware', monopoly, scrabble, soccer, volleyball to enable the
prisoners spend their leisure profitably.
7. Effective management and supervision
The prisons will be better places to reform prisoners if the prison authorities manage the
affairs of the prison effectively. There should also be proper supervision to ensure that no
prisoner or group of prisoners take the laws into their own hands and infringe upon the rights
of their fellow prisoners. Proper supervision will again ensure that prison officers do not
subject prisoners to inhuman treatment.
8. Training programs for the staff
The prison officers should be provided with in-service training programs to enable them
discard the old method of doing things and be abreast with the new changes in society.
9. Better working conditions for prison officers
The country's prisons will be better places for the reformation of inmates, if prison officers
are provided with adequate remuneration, welfare facilities, and free medical treatment. They
should also be provided with a laudable pension scheme to ensure a secured pension for
them. These facilities will urge the prison officers to discharge their duties as expected of
them
10. Public education
Ghanaians must be educated to change their negative attitudes towards all people who had
once been convicted of crimes. The reason being that, some of them were only framed up,
others were sent to prison because of their engagement in politics, others still were innocent
of the crimes they were accused to have committed.
DRUG ABUSE
Drug abuse is the habit of taking hard or dangerous drugs for purposes not intended. Some of
these drugs are considered illegal while others are legal. Drug abuse is also considered as the
use of drugs not prescribed by a qualified medical practitioner.
TYPES OF DRUGS
Drugs that are often abused by individuals can be grouped into legal and illegal drugs.
Legal drugs
These are drugs that individuals are allowed by law to buy and use. Examples of these drugs
are alcohol and tobacco, paracetamol, valium, aspirin, chloroquine and others.
Illegal drugs
These are drugs that are banned by law and individuals are not allowed to buy them for use.
Examples of these drugs are cannabis, cocaine, heroin and others.
CAUSES OF DRUG ABUSE
The reasons why individuals abuse drugs are as follows:
1. Recommendation by unqualified people
Individuals abuse such legal drugs as, paracetamol, valium, aspirin and chloroquine because
they are ill-advised by non-medical health personnel. The moment individuals complain of ill
health, others prescribe dosages of these drugs for them, as it is a common practice in
developing countries such as Ghana.
2. Accessibility
This is another reason why individuals abuse both legal and illegal drugs. Drugs such as
cocaine and marijuana can be easily obtained from individuals who sell them. In respect of
the legal drugs, one can visit any drug store or chemical shop and one will be served with all
the drugs one needs even without a prescription.
3. Pressure from peers
Pressure from peers can also push an individual to abuse drugs, especially, the illegal drugs.
As the individual sees his friends use cocaine or marijuana, he becomes delighted and
desirous of being like his friends, thus begins to use these illegal drugs. New members who
just join a gang often yield to pressure to use hard drugs for fear of being expelled from the
group.
4. Ignorance
Some individuals are influenced to use both legal and illegal drugs because they do not know
the harmful effects of taking these drugs. Example, an individual who complains of body
pains and does not know the side effects of a drug like brufen can accept any dosage from a
friend.
5. Curiosity
Abuse of drugs may also stem from the desire of an individual who has seen the effects of the
illegal drugs on a user or has been briefed about the effects of these drugs, to have a personal
experience.
6. Boosting of confidence
This is where the individual will like to take in illegal drugs to muster what is termed as
'Dutch Courage'. It is believed that when an individual uses drugs such as cocaine, marijuana
and alcohol, his confidence is boosted to enable him confront authority, mount a platform and
make a speech in the presence of a large crowd or approach and talk to a lady who under
normal circumstance he cannot do.
7. Genuine needs
Individuals abuse legal drugs because of genuine needs. Lack of sleep, pain and
depression on the part of the individual can compel him/her to take heavy doses of drugs
such as valium, brufen or paracetamol and aspirin, to induce sleep or reduce pain.
THE EFFECTS OF DRUG ABUSE
The effects of drug abuse are as follows:
1. Increase in crime/social vices
One of the major effects of drug abuse is the increase in criminal activities or social vices.
Research has shown that social vices such as delinquencies, armed robbery, stealing,
rebellion, etc. can be traced to the perpetrators of these crimes using drugs such as cocaine,
marijuana, alcohol and heroin.
2. Loss of manpower for economic development/poor work performance
Loss of manpower for economic development or poor work performance is another major
effect of drug abuse. Individuals who use drugs to enhance their performance at the work
place end up performing their duties poorly. The effects of these drugs make them drowsy,
compelling them to lose concentration. They cannot work effectively, leading to low
productivity. Moreover, people who use drugs expose themselves to a lot of health hazards in
heavy equipment industries
3. Mental illness
The use of illegal drugs can also bring ill health. It is noted that majority of mad men who
roam about on the streets, and inmates of the country's psychiatric hospitals are suffering
from their predicament because they had used drugs such as cocaine, marijuana and alcohol.
4. Impotence
Impotence is another effect of drug abuse. Medical experts say that individuals who take in
heavy doses of alcohol and tobacco stand the risk of becoming impotent.
5. Birth of deformed babies
The birth of deformed babies can also be attributed to the use of drugs. Pregnant women who
take in heavy doses of alcohol and tobacco stand the risk of giving birth to deformed babies.
It is believed that the nicotine in the tobacco retards the development of the unborn foetus.
6. Diversion of resources
Resources or funds meant for the provision of social amenities and infrastructural
development for the socio-economic development of the country are diverted to import drugs
for psychiatric hospitals and rehabilitation centres. Funds are also diverted to improve the
facilities of these institutions.
7. Increase in road accidents
Road accidents are a social problem traceable to the use of drugs. Majority of accidents on
the country's roads are caused by drivers who abuse drugs such as alcohol, cocaine and
marijuana. Heavy doses of these drugs make the drivers drowsy. They lose concentration and
control of their vehicles crashing them into objects that come their way. It should also be
noted that, most accidents that take place in factory sites are caused by the abuse of drugs.
8. It undermines academic abilities
Students and others who take in drugs to enhance their studies always end up not realising
their academic dreams. The drugs they take in with the hope of enhancing their studies do
not, after all, help them. Heavy doses of alcohol will cause an irrepairable damage to the
brain.
9. Reduction in healing effect
Individuals who abuse legal drugs such as paracetamol, chloroquine, ampicillin, aspirin and
others sometimes stand the danger of not responding to the healing effect of these drugs. That
is, in the event of ill health these drugs will not have the desired effect on the individual. The
individual becomes resistant to drugs that he abuses for a long period of time.
10. Disgrace to the family.
Since drug addiction is a social stigma, the individual who abuses drugs and has become an
addict, brings disgrace to his family.
MEASURES TO CURB DRUG ABUSE
In adopting measures to curb drug abuse, there are both preventive and curative measures.
The preventive measures are explained below:
1. Public education
For the effective control of drug abuse, the general public should be educated. The education
should center on the effect of drugs on the individual in particular and the country in general.
The campaign should be done at home, in schools by teachers, in religious institutions and
the mass media, both electronic and print media should preach against the use of drugs.
2. Law enforcement
To prevent the abuse of drugs, all the laws on the use of drugs should be strictly enforced.
Judges must impose harsh punishment on drug peddlers and drug users who are found guilty.
The border guards must seriously check all entry points of the country to prevent trafficking.
3. Government policy
Government should design a comprehensive policy on manufacture, sale and use with inputs
from all stake holders such as chiefs, the police, narcotic board, former addicts etc. This
would encourage them to be actively involved in the crusade against drug abuse.
4. Effective Narcotic Control Board
The abuse of illegal drugs will reduce if the Narcotic Control Board, the organisation
established to check and control illegal drugs, performs this function effectively and
efficiently. The government must provide the board with equipment that can be used to detect
the hide-outs of banned drugs. Officers of the unit should also live above reproach in the
performance of their duties.
5. International efforts
Governments all over the world should see the issue of drug abuse as a global problem. They
should therefore adopt concerted efforts in collaboration with N.G.Os. and multi-national
corporations to stamp out the canker of drug misuse and trafficking. This will enhance the
capacity of local officials as well as ensure effective border control.
6. Establishment of recreational centres
Since individuals abuse drugs out of boredom, there is the need for government to provide
communities with recreational facilities to enable individuals spend their leisure hours
profitably. These centres should be fitted with modern equipment to attract people to these
places and as they engage in the playing of the ludo, oware, monopoly, chess and other fun
games, they will not have time for drugs.
THE CURATIVE MEASURES OF DRUG ABUSE ARE EXPLAINED BELOW:
1. Establishment of rehabilitation centres
This is one of the major curative methods of drug abuse. The government should establish
rehabilitation centres to treat drug addicts. It should ensure that it equips these centres with
facilities that will enable them perform their functions effectively.
2. Provision of guidance and counselling
Since drug users have negative feeling about themselves, that is, the feeling of guilt, shame,
remorse, fear, loneliness and insecurity, they should be provided with guidance and
counselling services, in which officers will assist them to overcome such problem.
Causes of increased teenage pregnancies in Ghana
(i) Improper parental guidance /care
When parents do not supervise, guide or care for the needs of their children, they get freedom
and opportunities to engage in sexual relationships and other irresponsible sexual activities.
This is because their behaviours, lifestyles, choice of friends etc. would not be guided by their
parents and can lead them into teenage pregnancies.
(ii)Economic hardship/poverty
The high level of economic hardship in the country especially the rural areas compel many
young girls to engage in sexual relationships as a means to better their livelihood. It makes
them easily exchange sex for food, clothes, shelter and other favours from men. Some even
sleep with multiple partners to get money to sustain life and thus results in teenage
pregnancy.
(iii)Strong desire for material things
Many young girls attach strong desires and interest to acquire or possess cars, houses,
expensive dresses, bags and other material things that give them pleasure and certain standard
of life. These push many of them into sexual relationships or prostitution and the result
becomes teenage pregnancy.
SOCIAL PROBLEMS ASSOCIATED WITH TEENAGE PREGNANCIES(EFFECTS)
(i) Rejection by society
Girls who become pregnant at their teen ages are seen as bad influences on others and
therefore rejected by friends. Families and societies. They lose respect, trusts and supports of
their parents and other relatives. They become frustrated, emotionally distressed and very
uncomfortable to associate with friends and family members in their societies.
ii. Disruption of education
Because of the physical, emotional and economic challenges associated with teenage
pregnancy. girls in such condition are normally compelled by circumstances to terminate
their education and become school dropouts. Such girls lose the opportunities of school
education and unable to discover and develop their talents and capabilities through formal
education.
(iii)Interruption of future goals and aspirations
Girls who become pregnant at their teen ages cause great disservice to their future plans and
aspirations. Their hopes to attain certain social, economic or political status in life become
disrupted especially where they do not get supports or the opportunities from others to
restructure their lives into something meaningful.
(iv) Irresponsible parenting
Children born and raised by teenage mothers are sometimes deprived of good parental
guidance. cultural values and norms and unable to conform to the standard of behaviours of
the society. Parental love and affection and other basic needs such as food, shelter and clothes
for children to sustain life may also be insufficiently provided by the teenage mothers. Such
children are pushed by hardship conditions to engage in armed robbery, prostitution, stealing.
Etc. and become threats burdens or deviants in the society.
(v) Resort to unsafe abortion
(vi) Child malnutrition
Other effects:
1. Exposure to sexually transmitted diseases
Teenagers who engage in sexual intercourse may become infected with sexually transmitted
diseases such as HIV/AIDS, gonorrhea, syphilis and others. These infections can affect the
unborn baby.
2. Physical problems
Physically, a teenager's body is not matured enough to bear a baby easily. The pelvis of a
teenage girl is not matured enough to carry a baby. The result is, prolonged labour, leading to
complications that can lead to the death of both mother and baby.
REFERENCES:
M.-A, Emmanuel (2013). Global Social Studies for S.H.S. (3rd ed.). Global and Approachers series

Amin O., Adams. I (2017). A+ SERIES. A Plus Publications

GROUP WORK
1. The role of the family in the socializing the younger generation
2. The role of the community in the socialization process
3. The role of the school in the socialization process
4. The role of the media in the socialization process
5. The role of the religious groups in the socialization process
6. The role of peer group in socializing the younger generation