Social, Academic, and Psychological Impacts of Ghana’s COVID-19 Measures on University Students: A Human Security Perspective

This study examines the social, academic, and psychological impacts of Ghana’s government COVID-19 measures on university students through the lens of the Human Security and Securitization framework. Many scholars, the world over, have debated about the limitations and issues associated with securitizing public issues by governments. By situating the analysis within these theoretical frameworks, the study seeks to explain how securitizing the educational sector during COVID-19 by the Ghanaian government bred some unintended consequences in students academic performance, social interactions, and psychological wellbeing of university students. The study employed a quantitative descriptive survey to collect data from 100 Political Science students at the University of Education. Krejcie & Morgan’s (1970) table recommends that a population of 1,700 requires a sample size of 315, however, due to logistical constraints, voluntary participation, and limited time for the study, the researcher was only able to gather responses from 120 students, ultimately receiving 100 valid responses. In selecting the participants, the researcher used simple random sampling coupled with a departmental list and a random number generator. Findings of the study revealed that, socially, students maintained peer connections through virtual channels, thereby mitigating risks associated with isolation. Academically, students faced challenges with respect to the Online Management Systems introduced coupled with limited internet access. Psychologically, high levels of stress, anxiety, and depression were recorded due to lack of mental health support. While the Government’s measures were laudable, they insufficiently addressed human security concerns. The study recommends investments in virtual learning infrastructure, subsidizing internet costs, and integrating telehealth services in university systems.

COVID-19, human security, university students

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