ABSTRACT
Art is infused into the very fabric of Ghanaian society. In Ghana, there are traditional priests and priestesses who employ art making and creativity to enhance the social and emotional well-being of their clients. Art educators work with children with special needs, perhaps the art therapy component of the art education curriculum reflected the realization that skills in both areas are needed. Through a Fulbright Scholarship, Mr. Joseph Amenowode studied art therapy at the Pratt Institute in New York City, earning a Master of Professional Studies degree in Art Therapy in 1997 before becoming a doctoral candidate of Professor Peligah. In 2004, Acquaye evaluated the role of art in psychiatric institutions in Ghana. Ghanaian forms of art go far beyond the painting and drawing which are most prominent in western art-based assessments and therapeutic interventions.
