In this guide, we’ll be looking at the list of universities offering radiography in Ghana. We’ll also look at career opportunities for radiography graduates in Ghana as well as the requirements for becoming a radiographer in Ghana.
Radiography has always been a core discipline of health sciences. Radiographers are trained to produce many of the diagnostic images of the patients that radiologists use to diagnose patient conditions.
Radiography is also one of the highest paying medical science specialty in the world. You’ll find a diagnostic or therapeutic radiographer in almost every healthcare facility in the country.
What is Radiography?
Radiography is the science of obtaining images (radiographs) of internal and hidden structures of the human body for diagnostic or therapeutic purpose using X-rays, ultrasound, CT scan, MRI etc.
A radiographer is a trained health professional that uses X-rays to produce radiographs of patients in order to help diagnose the patient’s medical condition.
Radiography is divided into two: diagnostic and therapeutic.
Diagnostic radiographers work in areas that include X-ray, Ultrasound, Fluoroscopy, Computerised Tomography (CT), Magnetic Resonance Imaging (MRI), Nuclear Medicine, Angiography and Mammography.
Therapeutic radiographers are responsible for the planning and delivery of accurate radiotherapy treatments using a wide range of technical equipment. Accuracy is critical, for example, the aim of treatment may be to treat a tumour and destroy diseased tissue while minimising the amount of radiation exposure to surrounding healthy tissue.
Together both diagnostic and therapeutic radiography professionals provide essential services to patients.
What Do Radiographers Do?
As a diagnostic radiographer, your day-to-day tasks may include:
- producing and interpreting high-quality images of the body to identify and diagnose injury and disease
- screening for abnormalities
- taking part in surgical procedures like biopsies (examining tissues to find the cause of disease)
As a therapeutic radiographer, your day-to-day tasks may include:
- planning and giving treatment using x-rays and other radioactive sources
- working closely with medical specialists to plan treatment of malignant tumours or tissue defects
- assessing and monitoring patients through treatment and follow-up
How to Become a Radiographer in Ghana
To become a radiographer, you usually have to complete a degree in radiography at university. To get into these courses you usually need to gain your Senior Secondary Certificate of Education.
Prerequisite subjects, or assumed knowledge, in one or more of English, mathematics, biology, chemistry, and physics are normally required. You may also be required to attend an interview. Universities have different prerequisites and some have flexible entry requirements.
Entry Requirements for Radiography
WASSCE/SSSCE APPLICANTS
Applicants for radiography degree in Ghana are expected to have credit passes in English, Core Mathematics and Integrated Science. In addition, they’re also expected to have credit passes in Chemistry, Physics and either Biology or Elective Mathematics.
A’ LEVEL HOLDERS
Credit passes in FIVE (5) subjects at GCE Ordinary Level including English Language and
Mathematics and Three (3) Credit passes at Advanced Level in Biology, Chemistry and either Mathematics or Physics.
Universities Offering Radiography in Ghana
- University of Ghana
- Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology
- University of Allied and Health Sciences
- University of Cape Coast
Although you should note that only the University of Ghana offers the full Radiography course. Other universities offer the prototype, such as medical imaging and sonography. However, above is the list of all universities in Ghana that offers Radiography.