Akufo-Addo Approves Inclusion Of Nuclear Technology In Ghana’s Energy Mix

President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has incorporated the inclusion of nuclear technology into the country’s power generation mix.

The move, according to him, is in consonance  with the global collective commitment to the sustainable availability of power, and the peaceful exploitation of nuclear energy to enhance rapid industrialization, and to propel economic growth.

Cabinet in 2008 took a decision to include nuclear energy into the country’s energy generation mix which paved the way for its inclusion into the National Energy Policy and Strategy.

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).

A statement issued and signed by President Akufo-Addo said, “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, has met all the Phase-1 nuclear infrastructure requirements as recommended by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Milestone’s approach.”

In furtherance of this, the Minister for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation (MESTI) and the Minister for Energy (MoE), in collaboration with the Chief of Staff at the Office of the President have been directed to take all 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.