Social Work Global Conference Report 2020

Speaker Biographies Dr. Magnus Mfoafo - M ’ Carthy, Ph.D. Magnus Mfoafo - M ’ Carthy is an Associate Professor at the Lyle S. Hallman Faculty of Social Work, Wilfrid Laurier University, Ontario, Canada. Dr. Mfoafo - M ’ Carthy holds a Masters and PhD in Social Work from Columbia University and the University of Toronto respectively. He is the 2009 recipient of the Hilary M. Weston scholarship for scholastic achievement and commitment to mental health. A former Associate Director of Laurier ’ s Tshepo Institute for the Study of Contemporary Africa (TISCA) and a former Carnegie Diaspora Fellow at the University of Ghana, he has extensive policy, teaching, and research experience and has worked in adolescent and adult mental health organizations in New York City, British Columbia, and Ontario, including the Centre for Addiction and Mental Health (CAMH) in Toronto. He has previously taught at the Factor - Inwentash Faculty of Social Work, University of Toronto and the School of Social Work, University of Windsor. Dr. Mfoafo - M ’ Carthy ’ s research focuses on community - based / global mental health practice, disability, inclusive education, international social work, and Afrocentric social work practice. Dr. Mfoafo - M ’ Carthy has held numerous Canadian research grants exploring stigma, mental health, and disability. He travels regularly to Ghana and other African countries where he researches mental health and disability. Dr. Augustina Naami, Ph.D. COVID - 19: The Vulnerability of Persons with Disabilities in Ghana Dr. Augustina Naami is a lecturer at the Department of Social Work of the University of Ghana. She holds a BA degree in Economics from the University of Ghana, Master ’ s and PhD in Social Work from the Universi- ties of Chicago and Utah respectively. She had previously taught at the University of Northern Iowa in the United States of America. Dr. Naami teaches a range of areas in social work mostly with macro - level practice and policy orientations. Her research focuses on disability, mental health, the intersection of vulnerabilities, gender, social policy and poverty. Dr. Naami has conducted research locally and internationally. She has pre- sented her work globally as well as published in high - impact peer - reviewed journals. Dr. Naami serves on several boards of Civil Society and Faith - Based Organisations. Dr. Naami is currently a member of the Technical Committee which is reviewing the Persons with Disability Act of Ghana to align it with the United Nations ’ Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. As a member of this committee, she contributed immensely to reviewing the National Disability Law in Ghana (Act, 751).