By Victoria Agyemang
Cape Coast, Nov 20, GNA- A medical radiation science researcher, Mr Jacob Leonard Ago, has called for a more evidence-based approach to reforming radiography education in Ghana.
He argued that a proposed six-year pre-registration doctor of radiography programme was not the best option as it was misaligned with global standards.
In a detailed analysis, Mr Ago, a diagnostic radiographer and Research Assistant at the University of Ghana, argued against recent calls by the Ghana Society of Radiographers (GSR) for the extension of undergraduate radiography training from four to six years.
He admitted that reforms were needed in Ghana’s radiography education to strengthen professional competence, but the recommendation overlooked critical gaps in Ghana’s health education system, particularly with radiography.
According to Mr Ago, who is a PhD candidate at RMIT University in Australia, Ghana was currently faced with shortages of qualified radiography lecturers, limited training equipment, and inconsistent clinical placement capacity, making the proposed extended programme unrealistic.
“A structural shift to six years would not automatically produce work-ready graduates if the underlying teaching and clinical systems remain constrained.”
“Without addressing faculty capacity and equipment availability, a longer degree risks producing longer-trained but not better-prepared graduates,” he noted.
Mr Ago emphasised that advanced countries did not require a six-year pre-registration qualification for radiographers.
Nations such as the UK, Australia, Canada and most of Europe maintain three- or four-year bachelors’ programmes, complemented by postgraduate specialisation.
He explained that Ghana’s existing model four years of training plus a one-year mandatory internship was consistent with the global framework set by the International Society of Radiographers and Radiologic Technologists (ISRRT), to which the GSR belonged.
“Extending Ghana’s programme to six years would place the country outside internationally accepted norms without a clear rationale,” he said, highlighting potential risks to professional mobility and international recognition of Ghanaian qualifications.
Citing global trends in health education, Mr. Ago argued that competency-based education, and not extended duration, was what ensured high-quality practice.
He recommended strengthening clinical skills development, simulation-based training, mentorship structures, clearly defined competency milestones and opportunities for continuous professional development.
“These improvements can be achieved within the current four-year plus internship system,” he stressed.
Referencing the World Health Organisation’s Global Strategy on Human Resources for Health (HRH 2030), Mr Ago cautioned that longer training pipelines could slow workforce entry at a time when Ghana urgently needed more radiographers.
A recent study led by Dr Andrew Donkor, a Lecturer at KNUST, indicated that Ghana had fewer than 800 radiographers, a shortage that contributed to diagnostic delays and worker burnout.
“With demand for imaging services rising, Ghana needs to accelerate not delay the training of competent radiographers,” Mr Ago said.
The researcher also highlighted UNESCO’s emphasis on fairness and flexible learning in higher education.
He argued that a six-year mandatory programme could increased financial barriers for students and families and strained existing resources at universities that were currently not equipped for such a shift.
Mr Ago proposed that instead of extending undergraduate duration, Ghana should invest in a clearly defined scope of practice for the four-year radiography degree, have accredited postgraduate specialist programmes in CT, MRI, sonography, nuclear medicine, radiotherapy, image reporting, and other advanced modalities.
Advanced radiography practice is well developed in countries with shorter undergraduate programmes, reinforcing that specialisations, not prolonged undergraduate study is the appropriate pathway for building expertise.
He also referenced comments by Prof William Antwi, a senior figure in the radiography profession, and a Professor of Radiography at the University of Ghana, who urged practitioners to commit to “lifelong learning, ethical practice, teamwork, and mentorship.”
Mr Ago called for comprehensive engagement between the Ministry of Health, Ghana Tertiary Education Commission (GTEC), universities, the Allied Health Professions Council, and the GSR to ensure reforms were evidence-based and aligned with national needs.
“Increasing programme duration without addressing existing challenges may further strain institutions, students, and clinical facilities without improving graduate readiness,” he concluded.
Edited by Alice Tettey/Christian Akorlie