Psychology in Ghana: A review of research and practice

Abstract

This chapter tracks the evolution of the development of psychology in Ghana from the colonial era to present. We focus on research trends and practice trends in the first two sections. In the final section, we present and discuss current and future challenges in developing psychology in Ghana, in terms of its theoretical and practical relevance to social and national development. Our discussion is informed by a review of published articles on psychological research in Ghana, supplementary material solicited from psychologists based in Ghana, Europe and the US and our own work in the areas of clinical psychology, cognitive and neuropsychology and social and health psychology. Peltzer and Bless (Psychol Dev Soc 1:53-64, 1989) along with a number of African psychologists have suggested that psychology in Africa is undermined by cultural, organisational and manpower/finance challenges. The future prospects of Ghanaian psychology are considered through this interpretive framework. © 2014 Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht. All rights reserved.