Registrar of the Allied Health Professions Council (AHPC), Professor Shirazu Issahaku, has cautioned newly qualified Allied Health Professionals against engaging in activities outside their scope of practice.

Speaking at the induction and oath-swearing ceremony for newly qualified allied health graduates in Accra on Friday, October 16, 2026, Prof. Issahaku urged the professionals to remain focused on learning and uphold the standards of the profession.

The ceremony, held at the University of Ghana Cedi Conference Centre, was held under the theme: “Setting the Standard, Regulating Service, Safety and Excellence Across Universal Health Coverage.”

Prof. Issahaku noted that laboratory results could change depending on a patient's treatment, while accurate medical images could provide a clearer picture of a patient's condition.

He also highlighted the importance of rehabilitation, physiotherapy and dietetics in improving patients' quality of life.

According to him, the Council was inducting nearly 15,000 allied health professionals in batches across the country.

“I must say that laboratory results can change because of patient treatment. Accurate images can reveal the true picture of what is in you. Rehabilitation, physiotherapy, and, in fact, dietetics can really change the course of your life.

“This is why today, as a matter of importance to us, we are assembled here to induct a total of almost 15,000 allied health professionals,” he stated.

He also explained that the first batch would begin their induction in Accra, with another large number expected to be inducted on October 20, 2026, followed by another batch in Kumasi on October 22 and a final group of nearly 5,000 in Tamale.

Prof. Issahaku, while delivering his speech, also cautioned the newly qualified professionals against approaching their careers solely as a means of making money, stressing that their primary responsibility is to save lives.

“This responsibility will be beyond just looking for money. It has to do with saving lives. You are choosing this path not because you have any other option, but because you believe you have the capacity and the technical know-how to do the same."

He urged the professionals to use their one-year clinical experience to learn and prepare themselves for their future careers rather than focusing solely on providing clinical services.

“Don't regret it, because there will be a lot of things that may come your way that will not be what you expect. Your ability to still smile when you are angry with your colleagues and patients is extremely important in the course of your practice.

“You are being sent out not to practice. I must repeat this. You are being sent out not to practice but to study. The one year you are going to be in the clinical environment is not meant for you to go and provide clinical service. You are to go and undertake what we believe will shape you for a future after your licensing exams,” he added.

The Registrar further advised the graduates not to compromise their training or professional standards in pursuit of financial gains.

“Do not change the course of your study along the lines of trying to ensure that you get more money by cutting corners, but ensure that you study more than any other consideration,” he cautioned.

Also, guest speaker at the induction and oath-swearing ceremony, Prof. Freda Dzifa Intiful, has urged newly qualified allied health professionals to uphold high ethical standards and prioritise patient safety in their practice.

Speaking at the ceremony in Accra, Prof. Intiful noted that while qualifications demonstrate what professionals have studied and registration confirms their eligibility to practise, their conduct ultimately determines whether the public can trust them.

She urged them to view professional regulation as a framework that protects patients and strengthens the credibility of their profession.

“Your qualification demonstrates what you have studied. Your registration recognizes your eligibility to practice, but your conduct determines whether the public can trust you. Do not regard regulation as an obstacle to your career.

“Know your scope of practice, understand the ethical standards governing your work, maintain accurate records, respect confidentiality, seek supervision when necessary, and refer patients appropriately when their needs fall outside your competence,” she said.

Prof Intiful also encouraged the new professionals to adopt five key habits: verifying information before acting, communicating clearly, documenting accurately, speaking up when they identify unsafe practices, and treating every patient with dignity.

“My second message is that patient safety must never be negotiable,” she stressed, adding that safe healthcare requires the coordinated efforts of professionals across different fields.



JHM/AM