- The President of Ghana, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, has officially incorporated nuclear technology into the country’s power generation mix.
According to the President, the decision aligns with the global collective commitment to ensure sustainable power to enhance rapid industrialisation and propel economic growth.
In 2008, the cabinet took a decision to include nuclear energy in the country’s energy generation mix. The move paved the way for formulating a National Energy Policy and Strategy.
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This led to forming the Ghana Nuclear Power Programme Organisation (GNPPO) to oversee the implementation and coordination of the nuclear power programme. Ghana subsequently declared its intention to pursue a Nuclear Power Programme (NPP) for peaceful purposes in August 2013 through a letter submitted to the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
Two other key institutions, namely Nuclear Regulatory Authority (NRA) Ghana, an independent nuclear regulatory body, and Nuclear Power Ghana (NPG), a project company to take up the role and responsibility as an owner-operator, have been established by the government.
To satisfy all the relevant obligatory technical issues related to the introduction of nuclear power, the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission (GAEC), through its Technical Institute (the Nuclear Power Institute, NPI-GAEC) and with the support from other national bodies, had met all the Phase-1 nuclear infrastructure requirements as recommended by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Milestone’s approach.
In 2017 and 2019, the IAEA International Peer Review Mission, on the invitation of the country, undertook a review of the status of Ghana’s Phase 1 nuclear infrastructure development, and concluded that Ghana had satisfied all the prescribed studies for government to make a knowledgeable commitment to a Nuclear Power Programme. Furthermore, the numerous studies and progress of activities undertaken in Phase 1 of the nuclear power programme had been consolidated into the Programme Comprehensive Report (PCR).
The President instructed the Minister for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation and the Minister for Energy, in collaboration with the Chief of Staff at the Office of the President, to take the necessary steps to move the Ghana Nuclear Power Programme Organisation (GNPPO) from the Ministry of Energy to the Office of the President, to enhance proper coordination among the key institutions already established.
Additionally, GAEC and its technical institute (NPI-GAEC) will continue to support the GNPPO at the Office of the President following its re-alignment.
The government has also adopted the content of the PCR as a reflection of nuclear power infrastructure issues in the country and is committed to the peaceful uses of nuclear technology, as well as continuing their international cooperation and collaborations and participating in enhancing knowledge in all peaceful applications of nuclear technology.
The Ghanaian government also reiterated its commitment to continue its transparency and adherence to the strict standards of safety, security, and accountability in the peaceful uses of nuclear technology. The government also said it would continue with its efforts to implement the nuclear power programme in the subsequent phases of the programme by using nuclear technology to generate electricity to accelerate national development and industrialisation
Author: Nomvuyo Tena
Nomvuyo Tena is a Content Producer at Vuka Group and is as passionate about the energy transition in Africa as she is about music and Beyonce.
This article was originally published on ESI Africa and is republished with permission with minor editorial changes.
