Specific issues bothering the practice of Radiography in Ghana

A number of Radiographers in Ghana have had the privilege to pursue post-graduate studies in various imaging specialties in Ghana and abroad.  The trainings were at different levels: post-graduate certificate, post-graduate diploma and masters and PhD. About 70% of these were in the field of Medical Ultrasonography. Radiographers started to practice Medical Ultrasonography way back in the mid 1990’s. They excel in this practice and generally in any facility, whether public or private, where the Radiographers have that additional qualification and competence they are recognized and are free to practice. There are also a couple of radiographers with qualification in Clinical Radiography Reporting. These, however, do not have the authorization to practice because the Ministry of Health is yet to recognize such practice. Currently in the district and small hospitals General Radiographers as part of their training assist requesting doctors and general practitioners with identifying pathologies in radiographs. They also assist by advising on the appropriate imaging modality or the most appropriate radiographic examination for the patient. Therefore recognizing and encouraging more radiographers to specialize in Clinical Reporting will make this specialized service more accessible to all categories of clients in every part of the country. 

The Ghana Society of Radiographers has declared war on quacks. Some private individuals have set up diagnostic centres and have hired unqualified persons to run them. The GSR is fully collaborating with the regulatory body, the Allied Health Professions Council to weed out these persons from the Allied Health. The Council and has now empowered its Professionals Specific Committee to enable them assist it monitor these practices.

Radiography Education in Ghana
Radiography education in Ghana is a four-year undergraduate programme in the University.  The entry requirement is a science-biased course in the Senior High School or its equivalent. The prospective candidate should have good passes with a total aggregate of twenty-four (24) or better at the WASSCE in the following six compulsory subjects: Modern Mathematics, English language, Social Studies, Integrated Science, Physics, Chemistry and either Elective Mathematics or Biology. However, due to the competition the cut-off point for entry since the year 2013 has been between aggregate 10 and 11. Those entering the programme with A-Levels should have at least a C in Physics, Chemistry and either Mathematics or Biology and a pass in General Paper.
Currently two universities offer programmes in Radiography. The School of Biomedical and Allied Health Sciences (SBAHS) of the College of Health Sciences, University of Ghana offers programmes which leads to the award of BSc Diagnostic Radiography and BSc Therapy Radiography. The School of Allied Health Sciences of the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology offers a BSc Medical Ultrasonography programme.  These two produce an average of thirty (30) radiographers annually. Three other Universities: Cape Coast University, University of Health and Allied Sciences in Ho and the Central University College have far advanced plans to run programmes in the training of radiographers.
Currently it is only the University of Ghana which offers post-graduate programme in Radiography. It runs an MSc in Medical Ultrasonography which is also under review to be expanded into MSc Medical Imaging and MSc Radiation Therapy. Some institutions offer Radiography-related post-graduate courses from which some Radiographers have benefited. This includes the School of Nuclear and Allied Sciences (SNAS) of the University of Ghana which runs a Master of Science programme in Radiation Protection in Health
A number of radiographers have enrolled on post-graduate programme in foreign universities due to the absence of such programs in Ghana. They are on MSc, MPhil and PHD programs mostly with Universities in the United Kingdom and few others South Africa, China and Australia universities.
There are plans to establish Ghana College of Allied Health Professions to offer to promote specialized training in radiography and the like.

Radiographers-Radiologists Relationship in Ghana
The relationship between radiographers and radiologists in Ghana is a very cordial one. We respect each other as two distinct professions but who work together as a team in the imaging and radiation therapy service. Radiologists are involved in the training of radiographers and are often times invited as resource persons to workshops and conferences of radiographers. We participate in each other’s CPDs.  In almost all the district and small hospitals Radiographers work alone in the department of radiology but in the bigger hospitals, regional and teaching hospitals the department of radiology has both radiographers and radiologists. Senior Radiographers are also involved in the training of residents in the teaching hospitals. We also relate well in social activities as compatriots.

Leadership of Radiography in Ghana
The Ghana Society of radiographers is the sole professional umbrella of all certified radiographers in Ghana. It has a National Executive Council made up of the National officers, all regional Chairmen, the immediate past President and a Student representative. The Council is the governing body of the Society. The National Executive is headed by the President who is also the Chief Executive Officer of the Society. The Executive run the day to day affairs of the Society and has a two-year tenure after which they may be re-elected.  The National Congress is the highest legislative body of the Society. Congress is currently held biennially to among other things adopt the decisions of the Council, receive reports and hold elections. There are a number of standing Committees of the Council which address specific interests of the Society.
The President and the Executive represent the Society in various negotiations with stakeholders in the field; in formulation of policies in the Ministry, in the drafting of bills and legislative instruments, in labour negotiations and at deliberations of the Ghana Federation of Allied Health Professions. The Society has a five-member representation led by the Vice-President on the Professional Specific Committee of the Allied Health Professions Council. They represent the interest of radiography on the Council. The National Executive officers also organize CPD programs for members and actively collaborate with the Department of Radiography in the training institutions. 
 

Achievements of the Ghana Society of Radiographers
Among the landmark achievements of the Society is the establishment of the School of Allied Health Sciences of the College of Health Sciences in the University of Ghana in the year 2001 to run undergraduate programmes in Allied Health Sciences with the award of BSc. Members of the Society were very active in the formulation of policies and the drawing up of the curricula. Members were again very active in all the struggles that finally led to the passing of the Health Professions Regulatory Bodies Act, ACT 857 (2013) which brought into being the Allied Health Professions Council. The first Registrar of the Council was the immediate past president of the Ghana Society of Radiographers. The Society has currently drafted the LI to help operationalize the Act.
 The Society has been able to create awareness about the science and practice of radiography through public education, continuous professional development programmes and conferences.
The Society has given common identity to radiography practitioners in Ghana

West African College of Radiographers
A  West African College of Radiography is long overdue. Health sciences and technology keep advancing and so healthcare delivery is evolving. The science and practice of Radiography is correspondingly advancing fast and evolving. Radiographers therefore need to be equipped to the highest level to meet these challenges; they need to receive specialized training to meet the challenges in the advancing healthcare delivery. There was some preparatory work being done under the auspices of West African Health Organization, WAHO to harmonize the curricula for the training of radiographers. I think that should serve as the launch pad for work to begin towards the establishment of such a College for the sub-region. Such a college will also offer Radiographers the opportunity to progress vertically in their practice.

International Relations
The Ghana Society of Radiographers is a member of the International Society of Radiographers and Radiologic Technologists (ISRRT).
It is eagerly looking forward to establishing closer ties with sister associations in the sub-region and Africa as a whole.

Planned programmes of the Society in 2016
The planned activities for the year 2016 included Zonal Scientific Workshops for Northern Zone in February and for the Southern Zone in March 2016.
Radiographers in the Volta, Eastern, Greater-Accra, Central and the Western Regions of Ghana fall into the Southern Zone.
The Society of Radiographers will hold its 5th Biennial National Scientific Conference and Congress from the 4th-7th August 2016. Highlights of the Congress will be the adoption of the reviewed Constitution of the Society, election of new officers and Review of the Strategic Plan for the Society for the decade.
Meanwhile in May 2016 there are two workshops. One organized by the School of Biomedical and Allied Health Sciences of the University of Ghana in collaboration with a visiting professor in Medical Imaging and Public Health from the USA. The other is being organized by the Ghana Society for Medical Physics