Ghana has ratified the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) and the African Charter on the Rights and Welfare of Children, which it has domesticated through the 1998 Children's Act (Act 560), providing children with rights. These international, regional, and national child welfare policies give children, including those in alternative care, the right to participate in decisions that affect their lives. In 2019, 3,530 Ghanaian children were living in residential facilities. To improve the quality of care, the National Standards for Residential Homes in Ghana (2018) require that children in residential facilities be actively involved in decisions related to their care. This study examines how children experience participation by asking: How do children perceive and experience decision-making at placement, during care, and in preparation for leaving care? The study employed a qualitative design involving 65 children from four residential facilities who participated in focus groups. We used focus groups to collect data from the children, which was then analysed using a thematic approach. The children report having few opportunities to participate in and express their views on decisions in residential facilities, including their admission to residential care, daily activities in care, and preparation for leaving care. Their non-participation affected their rights to practise their religious choices, make dietary choices, keep family contact, and access information. Some children reported being punished or victimised for expressing their views. The implication of these findings for children's participation in residential care is that the Department of Social Welfare (DSW) should ensure the enforcement of the National Standards, train staff on child participation and change the culture within residential care. Services should routinely listen to children, record their views, and show them how their views are used to shape decisions.