History of Guidance and Counselling in Ghana

1)The beginning of guidance and counselling in Ghana dates as far back as 1955.

2)Then, the government of Ghana attempted to organize a national system of vocational guidance by establishing youth employment services for all youth under 20 years who had the Middle School Leaving Certificate.

Initial guidance in Ghana was the traditional type that took the form of advice-giving. This was a voluntary and non formalised service that took place in the schools administered by heads of institutions, house masters and house mistresses, teachers, chaplains, and school prefects.

Historical background of Guidance and Counselling in Ghana

1)Initial guidance in Ghana was the traditional type that took the form of advice-giving. 

2)This was a voluntary and non formalised service that took place in the schools administered by heads of institutions, house masters and house mistresses, teachers, chaplains, and school prefects.

3)The first formalised guidance in Ghana was in 1951 when the Ministry of Labour, Social Welfare and Education came together to establish a Youth Employment Department due to the outcry of Ghanaians for meaningful education which reflects the manpower needs of the country for their children. 

4)The Youth Employment Department was mainly to cater for the unemployed middle school leavers less than twenty years of age, with the intention of placing them in suitable jobs after going through vocational guidance.

PIONEERS ON THE ESTABLISHMENT OF GUIDANCE AND COUNSELLING IN GHANA

1)During the 1960s and the 1970s, a number of individuals and institutions in Ghana contributed greatly towards the establishment of guidance and counselling in the country.

2)According to Essuman (1999), “History of guidance and counselling in Ghana”, The following individuals and institutions are known to have contributed greatly.

Objectives 

a. agitating seriously for the establishment of guidance and counselling in second cycle institutions in the country.

b. initiating the suggestion that guidance and counselling courses or programmes be mounted at the University of Cape Coast.

c. drawing up programmes for vocational courses and “term-time attachments” for secondary school teachers at the University of Cape Coast.

d. participating in the training of selected teachers to act as guidance and counselling co-ordinator (teacher counsellor) in their schools at the Institute of Educational Planning and Administration.