Joel Agorinya

I have amassed over seven years of extensive experience as a mental health professional in Ghana, having worked in various capacities within both public and private healthcare institutions throughout the country. My professional journey has solidified my belief in the power of health policy to shape human behavior, motivating individuals to make informed and healthy decisions.

Over the past four years, I have been actively engaged in training fellow healthcare professionals in the realm of mental health. My dedication to capacity building led me to contribute significantly to initiatives such as the Ghana Health Service and World Health Organization's mhGAP projects, where I served as a trainer and supportive supervisor.

My commitment to mental health advocacy and leadership was recognized in 2021 when I was honored as a participant in the prestigious Mandela Washington Fellowship for young African leaders, a program sponsored by the United States government. My involvement extended to the Alumni Enrichment Institute, further enriching my skills and knowledge.

Currently, I serve as a Psychiatrist at the Accra Psychiatric Hospital while concurrently holding part-time lecturer positions at several tertiary institutions in Ghana. My overarching goal is to leverage my expertise and experience to drive high-quality research endeavors that can bring about tangible changes in mental health policy not only in Ghana but across the African continent.

My particular research focus centers on interventions for the treatment of individuals experiencing their first episode of psychosis. I am determined to contribute significantly to this field and aspire to pursue a Ph.D. to further advance our understanding and capacity to provide effective care for this vulnerable population.

• Ghana National Petroleum Corporation Postgraduate Scholarship Recipient
• WHO Quality Rights coach
• Mandela Washington Fellow
• Alumni Enrichment Institute participant
• Certified Life Coach
• Certificate in Metacognitive therapy

• MICROSFT WORD
• MICROSCOFT EXCEL
• MICROSOFT POWERPOINT
• R software
• SPSS

• Ghana National Petroleum Corporation Postgraduate Scholarship award (2018)
• Africa Oxford Initiative travel grant (2022)
• Mandela Washington Fellowship Reciprocal Exchange Award grant (2022)
• Africa Oxford Initiative Catalyst grant (2023)

• Joel Agorinya et al. When little can do more: the case for investing in mental healthcare in Ghana. Pan African Medical Journal, 2023, 45:86. [doi: 10.11604/pamj.2023.45.86.40409]
• Kusi-Mensah, K., Nuamah, N. D., Wemakor, S., Agorinya, J., Seidu, R.,Martyn-Dickens, C., & Bateman, A. (2022).Assessment Tools for Executive Function and Adaptive Function Following Brain Pathology Among Children in Developing Country Contexts: A Scoping Review of Current Tools. Neuropsychology Review, 32(3), 459–482.https://doi.org/10.1007/S11065-021-09529-W2.
• Kusi-Mensah, K., Nuamah, N. D.,Wemakor, S., Agorinya, J., Seidu, R.,Martyn-Dickens, C., & Bateman, A. (2022). A Systematic Review of the Validity and Reliability of Assessment Tools for Executive Function and Adaptive Function Following Brain Pathology among Children and Adolescents in Low- and Middle-Income Countries. Neuropsychology Review, 32(4), 974–1016. https://doi.org/10.1007/S11065-022-09538-311

Prof. Sammy Ohene

Faculty Chair

Ghana College of Physicians and Surgeons

Faculty of psychiatry

sammyohene@gmail.com

Prof Vincent Agyapong

Head of Psychiatry Department

Dalhousie University, Canada.

vincent.agyapong@nshealth.ca

• Ghana Medical Association (GMA)
• Psychiatric Association of Ghana (PAG)
• Mandela Washington Fellows Association of Ghana (MWFAG)
• Schizophrenia International Research Society (SIRS)
• International Early Psychosis Association (IEPA)
• Africa Civic Engagement Academy