Counselling Centre Graduates 30 Certified Student Counsellors

Thirty (30) students who undertook a one-year training programme in counselling to become Para-Counsellors have successfully passed out.

The programme, Young and Wise, which began in 2004, was designed to equip  students with the tools and knowledge to counsel their peers on campus.

The 12-month free training programme, organised by the Counselling Centre of the Faculty of Educational Foundations of the University of Cape Coast, covered topics including depression, anxiety disorders, CV writing, sexually transmitted infections and human temperament.

The other areas covered were skills of communication, dating and date rape, and homosexuality, among others.

These topics were tailored to ensure that the graduates used their newly acquired skills and expertise to play useful roles in society.

The students, who are not professional counsellors but first aiders in counselling services, were given certificates as a form of recognition.

The Director of the Counselling Centre, Dr. Rita Holm Adzovie, in her address, commended the graduates for endeavouring to take the course to acquire the necessary skills and knowledge as front liners to offer help to their peers in crisis.

Director of the Counselling Centre, Dr. Rita Holm Adzovie, presenting a certificate of honour to a graduate

Consequently, she continued, "As lay practitioners, you are expected to support your colleagues in particular and by extension Ghanaians to deal with emotional strain. This is a very sacred duty whose performance should not be motivated by a search for financial gain. Emotionally troubled people are unproductive and a drain on the economy."

She charged the graduates to create more awareness of the programme.

“You have to be good news bearers and inform others about the knowledge and skills you have acquired during the training”, said Dr. Adzovie

For his part, the Coordinator of the programme, Dr. Eugene Kwarteng-Nantwi, admonished the fresh graduates to eschew all forms of unethical lifestyles and rather be hardworking and disciplined.

Coordinator of the Young and Wise programme, Dr. Eugene Kwarteng-Nantwi, presenting a certificate of honour to a graduate

He advised the fresh graduates to always put what they have learnt during their intensive study at the Centre into practice, urging them to be humble and respectful.

He used the occasion to appeal to heads of educational institutions to intensify counselling sessions for students.

According to him, counselling plays a vital role in the development of students serving as a tool to manage mental health issues such as anxiety, and depression, and empowering people to lead healthy and fulfilling lives.

A lecturer at the Centre, Dr. Gloria Ambrose-Owusu, speaking at the ceremony, lauded the students for enduring the challenge to go through the course, saying “Despite all the difficulties the battle has come to an end.” 

She, therefore, tasked them to “Go out and turn things round by proving yourself as worthy ambassadors of the Counselling Centre.” 

On behalf of her colleagues, one of the graduates, Ruth Osei, expressed appreciation for the training and said they would use the knowledge acquired to the benefit of society.

Source: Documentation and Information Section-UCC