Social Division Research Clusters

Introduction

The Social Division of the Institute of Statistical, Social and Economic Research (ISSER) continues to play a central role in advancing high-quality, policy-relevant social science research in Ghana and beyond. As national development challenges grow more complex, shaped by rapid urbanisation, demographic transitions, climate change, technological disruption, governance shifts, and persistent social inequalities, the need for coordinated, interdisciplinary research becomes even more urgent. To respond effectively, the Division is strengthening its internal research organisation through the establishment of thematic research clusters.

The formation of these clusters is both a strategic and forward-looking step. It aligns with ISSER’s mandate as a research-intensive institute and reflects the University of Ghana’s commitment to impactful scholarship, collaboration, and knowledge production. The clusters are designed to harness the collective strengths of division members, consolidate expertise, stimulate multidisciplinary inquiry, and create platforms for producing research that is rigorous, visible, and influential in policy and academic circles.

This cluster framework also responds directly to the Division’s goals of enhancing collegiality, improving coordinated proposal development, deepening knowledge sharing, and increasing engagement with students and wider stakeholders. By organising expertise around clear thematic areas, the Social Division positions itself to better access research funding, generate high-quality publications, contribute to flagship outputs such as the Ghana Social Development Outlook (GSDO), and expand its influence on national and global development debates.

Structure of the Social Division Research Clusters

The Division’s research strengths have been consolidated into six thematic clusters, each reflecting the expertise of members. The background, key themes, and researchers mapped to each of these themes are elaborated below.