By Edward Dankwah, GNA
Accra, Oct. 8, GNA – Professor Joseph Amoako, President of the Ghana Association of Radiation Professionals (GARP), has called for stronger safety systems and the training of competent professionals to protect workers, patients and the public from potential risks associated with radiation sources.
He said effective protection was essential in healthcare, mining, telecommunications, industry and research, stressing the need for adequate expertise, regulation and infrastructure.
Prof. Amoako was speaking at the maiden Non-Ionizing Radiation Symposium, organised by GARP, on the theme: “Radiation Safety: Protecting the Public, Patients, Workers, and the Environment,” as part of activities marking the 2026 Radiation Protection Week.
He explained that radiation was energy broadly classified into ionising and non-ionising forms, with the former possessing sufficient energy to affect human cells and DNA.
Non-ionising forms generally had lower energy but could produce heating and other effects in biological tissues.
He said common sources included mobile phones, microwave ovens, antennas, visible light, lasers and Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI) devices, adding that such technologies had become integral to modern life.
Prof. Amoako said concerns about mobile phones and other electronic devices, particularly claims linking them to cancer and other diseases, underscored the need for public education based on scientific evidence.
“We need to depend on science,” he said, explaining that the symposium sought to provide accurate information, address misconceptions and enable experts to respond to public concerns.
He noted that non-ionising technologies had numerous applications in medical technology, electricity generation and transmission, telecommunications, broadcasting, electric vehicles and internet-based technologies, contributing significantly to technological advancement.
However, the benefits should be accompanied by appropriate measures to address concerns about their potential health effects.
Prof. Amoako said the GARP was advocating the training of competent health physics and safety professionals to work in mining and the extractive industry, telecommunications and healthcare facilities, including radiology, diagnostic and radiotherapy centres.
He also called for a strong licensing regime to ensure that practitioners had the requisite knowledge and experience to perform their duties safely.
Prof. Amoako urged the development of a well-defined and streamlined legal and regulatory framework covering the use of both ionising and non-ionising sources.
He said that would help protect workers, patients and members of the public who might be exposed to such sources in healthcare facilities and public spaces.
Dr Roland Yaw Kudozia, Head of Resource Market, Access and Compliance at the National Communications Authority (NCA), called for increased public education, continuous testing and scientific research to address concerns about radiofrequency emissions from telecommunications infrastructure and devices.
He said wireless communication relied on radio waves, with mobile phones connecting to base stations through specific portions of the radiofrequency spectrum.
Dr Kudozia said the NCA worked with the Ghana Standards Authority and industry stakeholders to establish common technical standards, while imported mobile phones underwent approval processes to ensure compliance with minimum safety specifications.
He emphasised the need for transparent communication of measurements and public education based on scientific evidence to help consumers understand safe exposure levels.
He said continuous research and testing remained necessary despite existing studies on the safety of telecommunications technologies.
“The mere fact that we know studies have found out that these things are safe doesn’t mean we go and sleep. We have to do studies, research all the time in order to make sure that we are still safe,” he added.
On 5G technology, Dr Kudozia said it offered faster data speeds and greater bandwidth than earlier generations, including 2G and 3G, enabling quicker internet access and supporting remote work and other data-intensive activities.
GNA
Edited by Agnes Boye-Doe