Growing the Science - The Emergence Development and Institutionalisation of Applied Behaviour Analysis in Ghana

This paper traces the emergence, development, and institutionalisation of Applied Behaviour Analysis (ABA) in Ghana from its earliest documented roots in 2012 to the inauguration of the Association for Behaviour Analysis Ghana (ABAG) in March 2026. Drawing on first-hand accounts, organisational records, and conference proceedings from ABAGCON 26, it documents how ABA took root through the advocacy of a parent of a child with autism, the recruitment and training of local psychology graduates, and the gradual development of a practitioner community supported by international partnerships.The paper identifies key challenges that shaped the field’s early trajectory, including the scarcity of in-country expertise, the misappropriation of the ABA label without fidelity to its scientific principles, and the cost barriers associated with international supervision. It highlights the critical role of international practitioners—particularly Whitney Hammel Anny, BCBA, and Autism Compassion Africa—in providing structured in-person supervision during a formative period.It examines the themes addressed at ABAGCON 26, Ghana’s first national behaviour analysis conference (20–21 March 2026), including ethical practice, cultural responsiveness, interdisciplinary collaboration, and workforce development. The paper concludes by reflecting on the significance of ABAG’s formation as a professional association and the implications of Ghana’s ABA development trajectory for the broader project of growing evidence-based behavioural science in sub-Saharan Africa.- rsz