Clinical pastoral education graduates police officers, seminarians
Three senior police officers and three seminarians have graduated from the Clinical Pastoral Education programme after undergoing training in Stress Management, Anger, Human Dynamics, Beliefs and Culture, Counselling Techniques and related fields to equip them to minister to people in crisis.
The graduates were Assistant Superintendent of Police (ASP) Rev. Godwin Kumatror, ASP Pastor Samuel Danso Marfoh, ASP Charles Obeng Boampong, Frederick Amoah Nyame, Michael Seyram Dodor and Samuel Akotor.
The programme, which forms part of efforts to strengthen pastoral care and chaplaincy within the country’s security and religious institutions, trained the participants under supervised settings over 12 weeks.
The graduation ceremony was held at the St Bakhita Parish Hall within the Catholic Diocese of Koforidua.
It closed with the award of certificates to participants.
It brought together police personnel, clergymen and other stakeholders.
The Clinical Pastoral Education programme was introduced in the country in March 1999 at St Dominic’s Hospital, Akwatia, by Rev. Monsignor Dr Alex Bobby Benson.
Relevant
A former Attorney-General, Papa Owusu-Ankomah, who attended the ceremony as a guest, called on the government to replicate the Clinical Pastoral Education programme in tertiary institutions across the country.
He said the course was relevant to present-day society because of increasing tension and political friction.
ASP Rev. Boampong, who was part of the graduates, also said the programme was relevant to the police service and places where human suffering, grief, pressure, conflict and moral responsibility existed.
He said the training had enhanced his understanding of human behaviour and improved his ability to support people facing emotional and psychological challenges.
Security
A former National Security Coordinator, Francis Poku, who served during the administration of former President John Agyekum Kufuor, told the gathering that insecurity could deter investors and worsen unemployment.
He said no investor would come into the country in an environment of insecurity, and called on the security services to remain committed to protecting national stability.
The ceremony also featured the inspection of a newly constructed 24-bed palliative care centre led by the Course Convenor, Monsignor Bobby Benson, at Osabene in Koforidua.
The facility, which is about 90 per cent complete, started in 2014 and is intended to provide care for terminally ill patients, including persons living with HIV.
