The founder and CEO of the Atta-Mills Institute for Public Policy Advocacy and Transformational Leadership Mentoring, Samuel Koku Anyidoho, has been inducted into the Ghana Psychology Council (GPC) as a professional counselor.
Anyidoho was among over 100 licensed professionals who received their certificates of induction and swore their professional oath at a ceremony held at the National Theatre on December 6, 2023.
A Calling to Serve
Anyidoho, who is also a former deputy general secretary of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), told the media that he was grateful to God for the opportunity and pledged to do his best to work in the supreme interest of the GPC.
“I have no doubt that my association with the GPC and other affiliated professional counseling organizations will go a long way to help the advocacy and transformational agenda of the Atta-Mills Institute,” he said.
The Atta-Mills Institute, named after the late former president of Ghana, John Evans Atta-Mills, is a non-governmental organization that aims to promote good governance, democracy, and social justice in Ghana and Africa.
Ethics, Excellence, and Leadership
Based on a report by Ghana Web, the theme of the induction ceremony was “Ethics, Excellence, and Leadership in Psychological Practice in Ghana”.
The chairperson of the GPC board, Professor Angela Ofori-Atta, who administered the oath, admonished the inductees not to take their calling for granted.
She urged them to ensure that continuous education, high professional standards, and ethical conduct are key to their practice.
She also warned them to refrain from all acts of indiscipline and collusion with others for personal favor or financial gain against the interests of clients or the profession.
The GPC is the statutory body that regulates the practice of psychology in Ghana. It was established by the Health Professions Regulatory Bodies Act, 2013 (Act 857).
A Growing Demand for Counseling
The induction of the new counselors comes at a time when Ghana is facing various social and mental health challenges, such as depression, anxiety, substance abuse, domestic violence, and suicide.
According to the World Health Organization, Ghana has one of the highest suicide rates in Africa, with 10.6 deaths per 100,000 people in 2016.
The COVID-19 pandemic has also exacerbated the mental health situation, as many people have lost their livelihoods, loved ones, and social support.
The GPC, in collaboration with other stakeholders, has been providing counseling and psychological services to the public, especially the vulnerable groups, during the crisis.
The GPC also offers training, accreditation, and supervision to aspiring and practicing counselors in Ghana.
The newly inducted counselors are expected to contribute to the development and delivery of quality and accessible psychological services to the Ghanaian population.
They are also expected to uphold the values and vision of the GPC, which is to be a leading body for excellence and innovation in psychological practice in Africa.
