Resources for Authors & Editors
Submission Guidelines
Before submitting your manuscript, please ensure that your manuscript:
- Is original.
- Complies with the GETSPA Style Guide.
- Uses APA 7th edition referencing.
- Is written in British English (for English-language manuscripts).
- Includes all required sections and supporting materials.
Submit manuscripts as Microsoft Word (.doc or .docx) files.
Use:
- Times New Roman, 12-point font
- Appropriate line spacing and heading format as specified in the Style Guide
- Page numbers
- Descriptive file names
Example: Mensah_Ghana_CountryReport_Draft2_15Jan2026.docx
Authors are expected to:
- Ensure compliance with applicable ethical and legal requirements.
- Disclose any conflicts of interest.
- Obtain permission for copyrighted materials.
- Ensure all data and sources are accurately represented.
Originality
GETSPA is committed to academic integrity. All submissions are screened for originality using plagiarism detection software. Manuscripts with unacceptable levels of similarity may be returned.
Submission Checklist
- Title page
- Abstract or Executive Summary (Where appropriate)
- Keywords
- Tables and figures
- References
- Appendices (where applicable)
- Author biographies
- Contact details for the corresponding author
Citation Guide
All GETSPA publications follow the 7th edition of the American Psychological Association (APA) referencing style. Authors are responsible for ensuring that citations and references are accurate, complete and consistent.
In-text Citations
Use APA 7th edition for all citations. Examples:
One author
(Safo, 2021) or Safo (2021)
Two authors
(Safo & Kende, 2020) or Safo and Kende (2020)
Three or more authors
(Safo et al., 2021) or Safo et al. (2021)
Reference List
The reference list should:
- Include every source cited in the manuscript.
- Be arranged alphabetically.
- Not be numbered.
- Include DOIs where available.
- Include direct URLs for online resources.
Frequently Asked Questions
Which referencing style should I use?
All manuscripts must use the APA 7th edition referencing style.
Which language should I write in?
English-language manuscripts should follow British English conventions.
Can I submit a manuscript in PDF?
No. Manuscripts should be submitted in Microsoft Word (.doc or .docx) format to facilitate editorial review and copyediting.
What font and formatting should I use?
Use Times New Roman, 12-point font and follow the formatting requirements outlined in the GETSPA Style Guide.
How long should the abstract be?
Abstracts or executive summaries should normally be between 150 and 250 words.
How many keywords should I provide?
Include four to six relevant keywords.
Are there word limits?
Yes. For example, policy Briefs should not exceed 1,800 words. Blog articles should not exceed 1,000 words. Please refer to the Style Guide for publication-specific requirements.
Can I insert figures directly into the manuscript?
Yes. Figures should appear close to the relevant text. High-resolution image files should also be supplied separately where requested.
Can tables be submitted as images?
No. Tables should be editable and created using Word table tools rather than inserted as images.
Does GETSPA check for plagiarism?
Yes. All submissions are assessed for originality. Authors are responsible for ensuring that all sources are properly acknowledged.