Ghana's nuclear facilities utilized in safe, secure manner

Kwabenya, May 21, GNA - Professor Edward H.K. Akaho, Director-General of the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission (GAEC), said on Monday that the "management, operation and utilization of nuclear facilities for peaceful purposes in Ghana are conducted in a safe, secure and environmentally accepted manner".

"The management, operation and utilization of the Commission's unclear facilities in the fields of human health and medicine, industry, agriculture and environment in its three institutes and five centres are conducted in accordance with IAEA guidelines and basic safety standards. Welcoming participants to a three-day training course on Nuclear Law and Legislation at Kwabenya, near Accra, Prof Akaho said the Commission was established by an Act of Parliament (Act 558, Atomic Energy Commission Act 2000) as the national nuclear research institution solely for the peaceful uses of atomic energy.

Eighty-four participants comprising personnel from the National Security Council, University of Ghana, Legon, GAEC, Ghana National Fire Service, the media and students of School of Nuclear and Allied Science (SNAS) of the GAEC are attending the workshop organised by the Commission in collaboration with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).

On the area of non-proliferation of nuclear arms, Prof Akaho said Ghana signed and ratified the multilateral treaty (NPT) and adopted the Model Protocol Additional to Safeguards Agreement. "Since the commissioning of the Ghana Research Reactor-1 in 1995, it has been subjected to IAEA safeguards inspections without any violation of the Agreement.

"In my view, Ghana is making accelerated efforts to establish, maintain and sustain nuclear safety and security and safeguards through the adherence to an implementation of relevant bidding and non-bidding legal instruments.

"In a comprehensive and coherent manner, we have put in place preventive measures of physical protection and accountability of all radioactive materials in use, storage and transport," he stated.

Prof. Akaho stated, however, that though Ghana was one of the 64 countries with experience in research reactor operation and had put in place initial legal frameworks relevant to nuclear energy, it still needed to develop its national legal infrastructure in nuclear safety, safeguards and liability for nuclear damage to support the implementation of any future nuclear power programme.

The Commission therefore, intends to seek the assistance of the IAEA's Office of Legal Affairs to help train local staff and develop the national nuclear law.

Professor C.N.G. Tagoe, Vice Chancellor of the University of Ghana, Legon, in an address read for him, said the university was proud to be associated with the GAEC in the establishment of the School of Nuclear and Allied Sciences (SNAS).

He said the school, which is run through the Agency of the Faculty of Science of the University, was currently offering eight accredited programmes leading to the award of M.Phil and Ph.D degrees in nuclear and related sciences.

"There is no doubt that the establishment of SNAS would further enhance our partnership. We are looking forward to significant achievements from our nuclear science and technology endeavours."

Professor Frederick Kwadjo Rodrigues, Dean of the Faculty of Science, who read the Vice Chancellor's address, said the establishment of the SNAS to train appropriate manpower in the field of nuclear and related sciences could not be better timed.

"We have, as a nation, suddenly become aware of nuclear power as a long-term source of electricity.

"With the expansion of the uses of nuclear techniques to address socio-economic problems in Ghana, there is the urgent need for a well-structured legal framework to meet the technical and management requirements in order to protect public health, safety and the environment," he added.

The Vice-Chancellor said the knowledge of nuclear law and legislation, which governs operations in the nuclear industry, was vital for the students of the SNAS who are the future practitioners of nuclear technology.

Professor Daniel A. Bekoe, a former Vice-Chancellor of the University of Ghana, Legon, and Chairman of the Council of State, who chaired the function, said the country could not embark on a nuclear power programme until the full legal framework and related regulatory laws and enforcement machinery had been installed. 21 May 07