Navigating the post-COVID landscape: Resilience, sustainability and in-clusive growth

Edward Nketiah-Amponsah; Bernardin  Senadza; Iris Mensimah  Fynn

Edward Nketiah-Amponsah Department of Economics, University of Ghana https://orcid.org/0000-0002-9754-1983
Bernardin Senadza Department of Economics, University of Ghana https://orcid.org/0000-0002-6387-3306
Iris Mensimah Fynn Department of Geography & Resource Development, University of Ghana https://orcid.org/0000-0002-8516-9272

Abstract

The COVID-19 pandemic marked a defining moment in contemporary global history, exposing deep structural vulnerabilities while simultaneously creating opportunities for transformation across societies (Conduah & Ofoe, 2025; Hale et al., 2021; World Health Organization, 2020). In Ghana, the pandemic disrupted economic systems, strained governance institutions, intensified social inequalities, and challenged the resilience of communities (World Bank, 2021; UNDP, 2020). Against this backdrop, the 9th School of Social Sciences International conference held in October 2024 provided a critical platform for scholars to interrogate these disruptions and propose pathways toward recovery and long-term sustainability. This special issue of the Ghana Social Science Journal (GSSJ) brings together selected papers from that conference under the theme “Resilience, Growth, and Sustainability in the Post-COVID Era: The Role of Social Sciences.” The aim of this special issue is threefold. First, it seeks to deepen understanding of how societies in Ghana and sub-Saharan Africa have responded to and are recovering from the pandemic's multidimensional impacts. Second, it highlights the role of social science research in unpacking complex socio-economic, environmental, and institutional challenges. Third, it advances policy-relevant insights that contribute to building resilient systems capable of withstanding future shocks while promoting inclusive and sustainable development.