The United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child stipulates the need for children and young people to have a say in matters that affect them. Despite being a signatory to this international legislation, Ghanaian children’s input in child protection decisions are rarely considered. As a measure to improve child participation in decision making, the possible outcomes for involving children in child protection meetings were explored. Twenty-five parents who have been in contact with a Department of Social Welfare in Ghana took part in the study. This study adapted elements of the constructivist grounded theory approach using an in-depth interview method. The interviews were audio recorded, analysed thematically and managed with NVivo software. Analysis of the interview data revealed positive outcomes of cultural integration and alteration, and children becoming responsible parents in the future. On the other hand, the study revealed escalating maltreatment and obstructing children’s education as possible negative outcomes for children when involved in child protection meetings. The findings suggest that child participation in case meetings can present an opportunity to break the cultural barriers of silencing children in decision making. Also, to further protect the child, after-case follow-ups and community sensitisation programmes have to be undertaken by practitioners to mitigate the possibilities of maltreatment from parents following children’s involvement in the child protection process.

《联合国儿童权利公约》规定，儿童和年轻人必须在影响他们的事务上拥有发言权。尽管加纳是该国际立法的签字国，但很少考虑加纳儿童在儿童保护决定中的投入。作为改善儿童参与决策的一种措施，探讨了让儿童参加儿童保护会议的可能结果。与加纳社会福利部有联系的25名父母参加了这项研究。这项研究采用了深入的访谈方法，以适应了建构主义扎根理论方法的要素。采访记录了音频，进行了主题分析并使用NVivo软件进行了管理。通过对访谈数据的分析，我们发现了文化融合与改变的积极成果，和孩子将来成为负责任的父母。另一方面，该研究表明，在参加儿童保护会议时，虐待的加剧和阻碍儿童的教育可能对儿童产生负面影响。研究结果表明，儿童参加案例会议可以提供一个机会，打破沉默儿童决策的文化障碍。另外，为了进一步保护儿童，从业者必须进行事后跟进和社区宣传计划，以减轻儿童参与儿童保护过程后父母对他们的虐待的可能性。该研究表明，在参加儿童保护会议时，不断加重的虐待和阻碍儿童的教育可能对儿童产生负面影响。研究结果表明，儿童参加案例会议可以提供一个机会，打破沉默儿童决策的文化障碍。另外，为了进一步保护儿童，从业者必须进行事后跟进和社区宣传计划，以减轻儿童参与儿童保护过程后父母对他们的虐待的可能性。该研究表明，在参加儿童保护会议时，不断加重的虐待和阻碍儿童的教育可能对儿童产生负面影响。研究结果表明，儿童参加案例会议可以提供一个机会，打破沉默儿童决策的文化障碍。另外，为了进一步保护儿童，从业者必须进行事后跟进和社区宣传计划，以减轻儿童参与儿童保护过程后父母对他们的虐待的可能性。