Accra, Dec. 5, - The Ghana
Psychology Council has been called to ensure that people who are not yet
licensed to practice as paraprofessionals or lay counsellors be vetted and
given license.
Mr Kwaku Agyeman Manu, the
Minister of Health, said this to the council in a speech read on his behalf, at
the maiden induction ceremony for licensed professionals, paraprofessionals and
lay practitioners in Accra on Tuesday.
The induction was held under the
theme: “Professionalism-Integrity and Service”.
Mr Agyeman Manu said the license
should be given when practitioners meet the qualification criteria as
stipulated in the law.
"The law, however, recognises
that training and competence define who practices psychology as therapists,
counsellors, paraprofessionals and lay practitioners and it is important that
you practice within your areas of expertise and within the boundaries of your
qualifications," he said.
Mr Agyeman Manu urged Ghana
Psychology Council to inject discipline and best practices in psychology field.
"We recognize the delicate
issues of power differentials between psychologists and their clients and urge
the council to be firm in ensuring the absence of abuse of such power among
practitioners.
"It is expected that the
Council will expedite the completion of its Legislative Instrument and table it
before parliament by mid-2018," he said.
Acknowledging the critical role
of practitioners under Act 857 in promoting and maintaining emotional and
mental well-being in the country, Mr Agyeman Manu urged the council to strictly
enforce Act 857 to protect the vulnerable.
The Health Minister urged the
practitioners and professionals, to live up to the challenge of being the best
psychology professionals and lay practitioners.
He also urged them to continually
acquire the requisite knowledge and skills needed for practice.
"Above all, you must develop
the right attitude of heart, which will add value and meaning to the care you
will provide for your clients," he said.
Professor Angela L. Ofori-Atta,
the Chairperson of the Ghana Psychology Council, said more efforts would be
made to help protect the Council’s Act.
She also said there would be
representation of the Council in the various regions that would sharpen the
training and practice of psychology.
One hundred and forty-one
practitioners were inducted as clinical psychologists, whiles 75 are
counselling psychologists, two were inducted as sports psychologists, eleven
educational psychologists, one a community psychologist and 26 industrial and
organizational psychologists.
The others were made up of eleven
social psychologists, 24 paraprofessional psychologists, nine psychologist
assistants and eight lay counsellors.
GNA
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