The Nuclear Energy Agency (NEA) is boosting its presence in Ghana as the West African country prepares to build its first nuclear power plant.
The semi-autonomous organization of the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) recently held its first official meeting in Ghana.
The country is well on its way to positioning itself as a key player in nuclear research and technology in Africa. It has established a Ghana Atomic Energy Commission (GAEC) and built a Ghana Research Reactor-1 (GHARR-1).
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GHARR-1, commissioned in 1995, is managed by the National Nuclear Research Foundation, a division of GAEC.
It is used as a neutron source for research, teaching and training to support undergraduate and postgraduate studies at universities in Ghana and West Africa.
Ghana is also now in the process of selecting a vendor to establish its first coal-free nuclear power plant.
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The NEA delegation, led by NEA Director General William D Magwood IV, met with Matthew Opoku Prempeh, Minister of Energy. Kwaku Afriyie, Minister of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation; Samuel Boakye Dampare, General Manager GAEC. Nii Kwashie Allotey, Director General of the Ghana Nuclear Regulatory Authority; and Eric Nkansah, Director General of the Ghana Education Service.
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Magwood also visited the University of Ghana, where he met with Joseph Richmond, Dean of the School of Nuclear and Allied Sciences, and discussed NEA’s work with students and faculty members. Finally, the Director General had a brief discussion with the President of Ghana, Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo.
In addition, NEA supported the Ministerial Conference of the International Framework for Nuclear Energy Cooperation (IFNEC) in early November. This event brought together high-level officials, nuclear industry representatives and key stakeholders to discuss regional and international cooperation and policies needed to advance nuclear energy programs in Africa.
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During the conference, Magwood moderated a discussion with Rumina Velshi, former President and CEO of the Canadian Nuclear Safety Commission, and David A Wright, Commissioner of the US Nuclear Regulatory Commission, focused on harmonizing regulatory requirements and practices and explored how these efforts could impact emerging countries.
Magwood also met Enobot Agboraw, Executive Secretary of the African Commission on Nuclear Energy (AFCONE), the autonomous Pan-African organization that supports regional cooperation for safe and peaceful applications of nuclear science and technology. AFCONE and NEA will explore possible cooperation in the future.
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Ghana’s nuclear ambitions and activities require a growing pipeline of talent, making it important for the country to address gender disparities in science, technology, engineering and mathematics (STEM) fields.
To this end, the Agency partnered with GAEC and IFNET to host an international NEAW mentorship workshop for Ghanaian high school girls.
Over the course of two days, students had the opportunity to hear from and interact with Ghanaian and international women leaders in the fields of nuclear energy and STEM.
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