Chinese delegation visits GAEC

Accra, May 23, GNA - A Professor at the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission (GAEC) on Tuesday said the Ghana Research Reactor 1 (GHARR-1) is under-utilised and urged businesses and corporations to patronise its services to enable the country derive maximum benefit from it.

Professor E.H.K. Akaho, Acting Director and Reactor Manager, said the GHARR-1 designed and manufactured by the China Atomic Energy Commission, is used for multi-elemental analysis of geological, industrial, medicinal and agricultural samples as well as teaching of Reactor Physics in the Universities.

"Since it was installed and commissioned in 1994, the 30 Kilowatt Reactor has operated without any incident or accident," he said, adding that a lot more needs to be done to increase its utilisation from the present 1,000 customer service to 5,000.

Professor Akaho said this when the five member Chinese delegation currently in the country to explore opportunities of enhancing Ghana's industrial and agricultural sectors visited the commission. He said even though the charges are low individual companies are reluctant to bring samples for research due to lack of knowledge of the Reactor's effectiveness. A programme is therefore underway to create greater awareness.

Prof. George Klu, a Director of the Commission, who took the delegation round, said the commission would collaborate with the Chinese Institutes of Nuclear Engineering and Material Sciences to consolidate food security. He said the collaboration would also enhance local herbal medicine production and treatment of waste water.

Prof. Francis Allotey, Chairman of the GAEC, commended the Chinese government for the establishment of the Radiotherapy centre at Korle-Bu which, since its commissioning in 1998, has treated about 1,000 cancer patients. He called for an agreement for the exchange of experts to selected laboratories in China and Ghana to undertake fundamental and applied research in areas like health, nutrition, agriculture and environment.

Professor Han Deqian, President of China Technology Market Association and leader of the delegation, said a lot of achievements would be made through bilateral corporation and assured the commission of China's support.