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Music Therapy In Ghana The Music Therapy Association of Ghana (MTAG) was formed in January 2014 through pioneering efforts by Mawuyrami Ocloo and with letters of recommendation and support from the American Music Therapy Association (AMTA) and the World Federation of Music Therapy (WFMT). Given the importance of this discipline, the Ministry of Health in Ghana approved the practice of music therapy in Ghana under professional health disciplines, specifically Regenerative Health. The Ministry of Health in Ghana has given full endorsements to MTAG to train, examine, assess, and accredit all matters relating to music therapists and the profession within Ghana.MTAG holds among its objectives:
- Education and creating awareness of music therapy in Ghana by organizing lectures, seminars, symposiums and workshops
- Introduction and training of Music Therapists
- Research into the use of indigenous music and instruments in Music Therapy
These objectives are currently being actualized as MTAG held the first ever Music Therapy Symposium in Ghana. This drew high profile personalities and officials as well as a cross section of people from universities, health and educational institutions, musicians, and the public. This symposium has helped in creating awareness of this novel discipline in the country. Currently, MTAG is offering music therapy services to schools and interested individuals and is very open to receiving interns for practicums and internships from all over the world.Music Therapy in Namibia Namibia has one registered music therapist who graduated from the University of Pretoria and went on to pioneer the HPCNA (Health Professions Council of Namibia), recognizing Music Therapy as an accredited health profession.Music Therapy is soon to be included in the therapeutic program in the field of Mental Health at the Ombili Centre in Windhoek, starting to offer music therapy groups at the Ombili Centre.Carina has worked in conjunction with the OT department of the Windhoek Central Hospital offering drumming sessions for wheelchair users and has also worked with a variety of client groups including those with dementia, Autism Spectrum Disorders, and the corporate sector. She has also offered continuing professional development (CPD) events as part of music therapy training and advocacy.Music Therapy in South AfricaThe University of Pretoria runs the only Music Therapy training in South Africa. It is a full time, two-year program, with graduates registering with the HPCSA upon graduating.Music Therapists work in a variety of contexts throughout South Africa. An exciting initiative is Music Works in Cape Town that works in the Cape Flats, offering a variety of music based interventions including music therapy, a community choir, music based interventions in collaboration with community musicians, supervision for music therapy students, and training in the area of early childhood development. Other music therapists work in different parts of South Africa in the areas of mental health, special needs, community based settings, Autism Spectrum Disorders, geriatrics, and oncology.Ms. Kobie Temmingh Swart has recently qualified as a GIM primary trainer and offers training in South Africa for music therapists, psychotherapists, and other suitably qualified health professionals.SAMTA (the South African Music Therapy Association) actively works in the area of music therapy advocacy, building the growing community of music therapists in South Africa and participating in the ongoing development of music therapists through regular CPD meetings. SAMTA also works closely with SANATO, the umbrella organization for the Arts Therapies in South Africa. There is increasing collaboration amongst the Arts Therapies, which is something we look to see strengthened in the future.Carol Lotter, South AfricaWFMT Regional Liaison, Africa
