Accra, Aug. 25, GNA - Members of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Environment have pledged to support efforts of the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission (GAEC) to ensure success in its nuclear power programme.

The members stressed that GAEC's existence could expand nuclear science and technology in Ghana and further equip her with greater scientific knowledge to solving the socio-economic and health problems facing the country.

Mr. Raymond Tawiah, Chairman of the Committee who led the team to tour facilities of GAEC on Monday, commended the Commission for its operations, saying, nuclear energy had become crucial to supplementing Ghana's hydro-electric power supply.

It would also provide alternate health treatment for disease such as cancer which was becoming a global scourge, he said. Mr Tawiah urged GAEC to report progress as far as the nuclear energy supply programme was concerned to the committee and also count on it for support for parliamentary approvals to loans to expand their operations.

Members were taken round the central laboratories, Chemistry Department, the Reactor Centre and the Biotechnology and Nuclear Agriculture Research Institute (BNARI), where researches were being carried out.

At the Chemistry Department, there are various laboratories that undertake diverse researches including tuberculoses and malaria, particularly in the nation's prisons and the testing of the levels of pollutions in both air and water.

Other sections under the Department include the Radiological and Medical Science Research Institute, the Isotopes Analysis Laboratory, X'ray fluorescence laboratory and the Nuclear Magnetic Resonance laboratory.

At the Ghana Research Reactor-1 Centre, members were told that the original Reactor with a two mega watt power, which was brought in before the overthrow of Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah, had been abandoned. This facility housed high radiation gadgets such as the Rabbit System, a miniature Neutron Source Reactor mainly for Neutron Activation Analysis (NAA).

The current Reactor with just 30 kilowatt power is used for the training of scientists and engineers, for research purposes and for production of short leave radioactive isotopes, to be used as tracers for studies in industry and in agriculture.

The Biotechnology and Nuclear Agriculture Research Institute which serves as the focal point for Biodiversity in Ghana had been mandated to promote research, develop and commercialize the peaceful and safe applications of biotechnology, and nuclear techniques to enhance agricultural productivity, health delivery and industrial outputs for socio-economic advancement.

Research activities of the institute include the use of plant tissue culture for rapid multiplication, disease elimination and germplasm storage and exchange, molecular biology and analysis of mineral nutrients in staple food crops. 25 Aug. 09