THE DEPARTMENT of Psychology, University of Ghana, in conjunction with the University of Ghana Association of Psychology Students (UNIGAPS), organized a series of activities to celebrate the first ever PSYCHOLOGY WEEK at the University of Ghana, Legon from 8th-14th April 2002.
The week long celebration, under the theme "The role of Psychology in National Development", was aimed at highlighting the contribution of Psychology to national development.
The formal opening ceremony was held on 8th April 2002 at the auditorium of the Nursing Department.
The Guest of Honour for the occasion was Mr. H.C.A. Bulley, a founding member of the Department and one time Head of the Department and Dean of the Faculty of the Social Studies, University of Ghana.
He called on the alumni of the department to come together and contribute their quota towards the resourcing of the department.
Attending his first official function as the new Dean of the Faculty of Social Studies, Professor Atsu Aryee, urged Psychologists to be more proactive in issues confronting the nation.
He called on them to be more active not only in the academic pursuits of the discipline but also engage in extension activities in areas such as Industry, Sports, and Health.
Prof. Aryee urged the Department to reach out and embark on more extension programmes to facilitate the knowledge and understanding of the discipline.
He hoped next year's celebration would be held along the lines of the "Medical Students Week" celebrated by the Medical School which involves more community-based programmes to heighten awareness of the discipline to achieve the impact for which the celebrations are held.
In his welcome address, the Head of Department, Prof. J Y Opoku, expressed dismay about the difficulties the Department is going through to train and develop the future manpower needs of the country.
He stated that in spite of the fact that the Department is the third largest in the Faculty of Social Studies, and the largest in terms of the services it renders to other departments, it continues to be housed in a temporary structure put up in the 1960s, with only four offices for about 11 lecturers and the Head of Department.
This situation, according to Prof. Opoku, has made it difficult for the Department to attract academic staff.
To redress this unfortunate situation, Prof. Opoku appealed to the University and alumni of the department to help put up a bigger departmental building befitting the status of Psychology as the most heavily subscribed discipline in the University.
In the interim, he called on the Development Office of the University to explore the possibility of expanding existing facilities in the department.
He also appealed to benevolent organizations and alumni of the department to help purchase a mini bus that will be used to convey graduate students on attachment to hospitals and organizations as part of their training.
Prof. Opoku also announced that the department has taken a firm decision to publish a series of manuals to be titled: "Tutorials in Psychology" that will serve as guides to both students and tutorial assistants during tutorial sessions since it is no longer possible to organize tutorials among small groups of students for maximum effectiveness as used to be the case in the past.
Prof. Opoku challenged lecturers and students of the Department to work and fulfill the dream of the establishment of a "School of Psychology" at the university.
He commended UNIGAPS for their assistance in ensuring the smooth running of the Department by donating teaching aids like a 28" Colour TV set and a Video Deck to the Department.
He hoped that they would continue to work to sustain the current cordial relationship between staff and students of the Department.
The Chairman for the occasion, Dr. Robert Akuamoah-Boateng, called on students not to leave the marketing of the discipline to lecturers alone but work hard to increase awareness of the field for the desired impact to be felt.
The Vice-President of the UNIGAPS, Miss Hetty Asamoah in her contribution, praised the foresight of the pioneers for establishing the Department, which currently, is the third largest in the Faculty and called on alumni of the Department to come to the aid of the Department.
The highlight of the week-long celebrations was on Thursday 11th April 2002, when two personalities, Prof. C.E. Fiscian and Mr. H.C.A. Bulley, who against great odds, fought for the establishment and the development of the department were honoured for their meritorious services to the department.
Professor Fiscian, a trained sociologist with specialization in Social Psychology, fought to establish the first ever Psychology department in an Anglophone West African University in May 1967.
Mr. Bulley, who assisted Prof. Fiscian during the infant stages of the department stayed with the department in its challenging years in the early 1980s when almost all lecturers in the department left in search of greener pastures outside the country.
The two, though retired, continued to serve the department in both teaching and advisory capacities until quite recently when they both decided to take needed rests.
The two former Heads of the Department, who are now both chiefs, were honoured with citations and beautiful Kente Cloths with beautiful "Ahenema" sandals to match.
They expressed their gratitude for the honour done them and urged all present to work even harder to ensure that Psychology takes its rightful place in national development.
It was an emotional scene when students lined up to congratulate the two men for their foresight and bravery for the establishment of the discipline that they have grown to love so much.
There was also an exhibition of some works published by some staff of the department, including newspaper articles on topical social/psychological issues that were published by 'The Heritage' newspaper.
Other activities to commemorate the week were organized by UNIGAPS. These included counseling sessions, a beach trip, social mix and an excursion to the Kakum National Park.
