Reverend John K. Darku
Reverend John K. Darku, the Executive Director, Africa, of Christ for All Nations (CfaN), has urged psychologists and counsellors to look at their practice as a calling, a Godly duty to mainitain and improve the emotional and mental well-being of Ghanaians.
Speaking at an end-of-year meeting of the management and staff of Holistic Counselling and Training Consult Ltd in Accra, Rev Darku, who is also vice chairman of the para-organization, said “in whichever area of psychology you operate – be you a clinical psychologist, community, educational, industrial, organizational, a counseling psychologist or lay counselor – you have a sacred duty to contribute to the reduction in the burden of emotional difficulties.
“You are expected to support Ghanaians to deal with emotional strain. This is a very sacred duty whose performance should not be motivated by a search for financial gain. Yours is a sacred duty because you are instruments in the hand of God to bring about holistic development to the people. Emotionally troubled people are unproductive and a drain on the economy,” he said.
Directing his concerns at crooks, quacks and untrained counselors in the society, Rev Darko was happy that after years of advocacy and struggle, the the Ghana Psychology Council has been established under Act 857.
The Council is the only body empowered to acknowledge safe practitioners and regulate the practice of psychology to protect the vulnerable in the society. The law defines those who qualified to practice psychology as therapists, counsellors, para-professionals and lay practitoners. It is the duty of the Council to ensure that every practioner is licensed. It also vets para-professionals and lay counselors for the purpose of licencing them to practice.
Rev Darku urged psychologists, especially lay counselors, to uphold the law by registering as required under the law.
“We must be grateful to God for the law and for the existence of the Psychology Council. Too many people, especially religious personalities, think that no education or training is needed to counsel people. It is unfortunate that for financial gain, everybody wants to be perceived as a counsellor. This is not only wrong; it is also dangerous.”
Some 500 professionals were inducted for the first time in the history of Ghansat into the Ghana Psychology Council. Among them was Apostle Kofi Abbrey, CEO and chairman of Holistic Counselling and Training Consult Ltd, a company established to train and develop skills and relevant knowledge in the practice of Care, Counselling and Coaching in the church and beyond. With a second degree in Counseling, Apostle Abbrey is a member of the Council’s committee in charge of para-professionals and Lay Practitioners.