November 2025

The Deputy Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in charge of Technical Corporation (TC), Dr. Hua Liu, is in Ghana for a working visit.

He came along with the IAEA Ag. Director of the Division for Africa, Dr. Gashaw Gebeyehu Wolde.

The visit is aimed at strengthening ties with Ghana and to understand the current state of Ghana’s Nuclear Power Programme (NPP), usage of nuclear installations/facilities in the country and to determine other areas of corporation between Ghana and the IAEA.

The duo was hosted by the National Liaison Officer for the IAEA in Ghana, Prof. Samuel Boakye Dampare, who doubles as the Director General of Ghana Atomic Energy Commission(GAEC).

The first day of the visit took them to the Ministry of Health(MoH), where they had a meeting with the Minister, Hon. Kwabena Mintah Akandoh. It was followed by a visit to the Ministry of Environment Science and Technology (MEST), where they met with the Ag. Deputy Minister, Hon. Alhaji Yusif Sulemana. They then proceeded to the premises of Nuclear Power Ghana (NPG), where they met with the Executive Secretary, Dr. Stephen Yamoah and his team and finally went to the Nuclear Regulatory Authority (NRA), where they met with the Deputy Director General, Prof. Augustine Faanu, and his team.

The discussions at the various Ministries and Agencies focused on possible areas of corporation in health, agriculture, energy, manpower development and environment protection. The discussions also bothered on improving current nuclear facilities and construction of new ones for the benefit of Ghana and the subregion.

Notable among them are the construction of a third radiotherapy center in Tamale, the construction of a children’s hospital and offer of scholarships for training of students in nuclear science and engineering from the undergraduate to graduate levels.

During the tour of the Ministries and Agencies, Institute Directors of GAEC, such as the Director of the Radiological and Medical Sciences Research Institute (RAMSRI), Dr. Theodosia Adom and her team as well as the Director of the Nuclear Power Institute, Dr. Archibold Buah-Kwofie were on hand at the Ministry of Health and Nuclear Power Ghana for discussions.

A team from GAEC, made up of the Director General, Prof. Samuel Boakye Dampare, Director of Administration, Mr. William Srekumah, Head of Legal Affairs, Madam Susana Nyarkoa Addo (Esq) as well as the Head of Communication and Public Relations, Dr. Mark Kwasi Sarfo and his staff accompanied Dr. Hua Liu and Dr. Wolde on their tour.

By: CPRC/CCD

The management of the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission (GAEC) welcomed representatives from the French Embassy on Thursday during a courtesy visit by two diplomats to the Commission’s headquarters in Accra.

The visit was aimed at deepening ties between GAEC and the French Consulate to promote research and development.

The team from the French Embassy was led by the Attache for Scientific and Higher Education Cooperation, Ms. Diane Brami and accompanied by the Project Coordinator of the France Team Fund: AI for Sustainable Development, Dr. Elizabeth Morzadec.

Dr. Elizabeth Morzadec expressed her gratitude to the Management of GAEC and stressed their commitment to promote AI driven research between Ghana and France for the benefit of humankind.

On his part, the Director General of GAEC, Prof. Samuel Boakye Dampare, thanked the team and expressed GAEC’s readiness to partner France for research into areas such as agriculture, health, industry and space science, to mention a few.

“This marks the beginning of bigger collaborations between our two countries”, he added.

Prof. Dampare enumerated a number of projects that have received support from the French and also thanked the team for sponsoring a new PhD. student (Ms, Sandra Agbenyegah) scheduled to be in France for the next six months.

The Deputy Director General of GAEC, Prof. Francis Hasford, gave an overview of the activities of GAEC in a presentation. Highlighting key research activities and contributions that GAEC is making for the socioeconomic development of Ghana.

The team was taken on a tour to visit the Ghana Research Reactors Centre, The Accelerator Research Centre and Secondary Standard Dosimetry Laboratory of GAEC before departure.

By: CPRC/CCD

The Ghana Atomic Energy Commission (GAEC) has inaugurated the management boards of its six research institutes and a graduate school at a ceremony in Accra to enhance good governance, efficiency, and sustainability.

The institutes are the National Nuclear Research Institute (NNRI), Radiation Protection Institute (RPI), Biotechnology and Nuclear Agriculture Research Institute (BNARI), Radiological and Medical Sciences Research Institute (RAMSRI), Nuclear Power Institute (NPI), School of Nuclear and Allied Sciences (SNAS), and the Ghana Space Science and Technology Institute (GSSTI).

Addressing the gathering after swearing in members of the boards, the Chairperson of the GAEC Governing Board, Professor Abdulai Baba Salifu, urged them to strengthen institutional governance and scientific leadership within the Commission.

He reminded them that the oaths they had taken were solemn commitments to serve with professionalism and to safeguard the public trust vested in them.

Prof. Salifu emphasised the critical role of the newly inaugurated boards in steering the strategic direction of their respective institutes, describing them as “engines of discovery and application” across key national development areas, including health, agriculture, energy, radiation protection, environmental safety, and space science.

He noted that Ghana’s nuclear power agenda, now advancing through Phase II of the International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) three-phased approach, requires strong institutional governance and scientific leadership.

“Ghana’s pursuit of nuclear energy represents not merely an infrastructure ambition but also an energy-security imperative,” Prof. Salifu stated, adding that the institutes under GAEC would be pivotal in strengthening research, capacity building, and safety frameworks to support the country’s nuclear energy aspirations.

Prof. Salifu further encouraged the institutes to align their activities with national research and innovation priorities, including the National Research Fund, the Feed Ghana Programme, and emerging initiatives such as the Tree for Life Initiative and the National Artificial Intelligence Strategy.

He called for deeper collaboration with universities, industry, and government agencies to ensure GAEC’s scientific research translates into solutions that benefit the everyday lives of Ghanaians.

On his part, the Director-General of GAEC, Prof. Samuel Boakye Dampare, described the inauguration as a reaffirmation of the Commission’s commitment to good governance and institutional efficiency.

“Today’s event is not just a formality; it is a reaffirmation of GAEC’s commitment to good governance, institutional efficiency, and strategic leadership across our research and operational arms,” Prof. Dampare said.

He commended the GAEC Board for its leadership in constituting the new boards and praised the diverse professional expertise of the members, noting that their inclusion demonstrates a strong belief in collaborative governance and evidence-based decision-making.

Prof. Dampare urged the members to work closely with their respective Institute Directors and align their actions with the Commission’s strategic objectives, stressing the importance of transparency, professionalism, and the national interest in all deliberations.

By: CPRC/CCD

On Thursday, August 26, a swearing-in ceremony was held at the Ministry of Environment, Science, and Technology (MEST) to officially induct the newly appointed Governing Board Members of the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission (GAEC).

The ceremony was presided over by the Hon. Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, Acting Minister for MEST, who concurrently serves as the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, on behalf of H.E. President John Dramani Mahama.

He led the Board members to take the oath of office and oath of secrecy as guiding principles in the discharge of their duties.

The seven-member Governing Board will be Chaired by Prof. Abdulai Baba Salifu, with Prof. Francis Gbogbo, Dr. Sena Akosua Yvonne Loh, Prof. Langbong Bimi, Ms. Suweibatu Adam Esq. (Chief Director of MEST), Mr. Albert Quashigah Esq., and Prof. Samuel Boakye Dampare (Director General of GAEC) as members.

In a short statement by the minister, he indicated that the newly inducted Board’s stewardship comes at a critical juncture in Ghana’s Nuclear Power Programme, which is progressing steadily towards the completion of Phase II of the IAEA 3-Phased approach, leading to the ultimate realization of a nuclear power plant to diversify Ghana’s energy generation sources.

“Your commitment to ensuring that the Commission meets international nuclear safety and regulatory standards is crucial, as Ghana works closely with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to advance this ambitious national project”, he added.

The Minister also revealed that there were on-going policy processes to review the existing GAEC Act (Act 508) as part of efforts to strengthen and strategically position the Commission to derive maximum benefits from its operations and management. He pledged his maximum commitment and support to ensure that Cabinet and Parliament successfully amend the Act.

“I urge this Board to accord the review process with all the urgency required. The good thing is that with a new Board, fresh ideas, experts advise and insights will be made available to further enrich the document,” he said.

He further charged the board to give urgent attention to the issue of encroachment on GAEC lands. He revealed that the Commission’s lands are critical national assets that host strategic research, training and nuclear facilities, in which encroachment threatens not

only their current operations, but also the future expansion of Ghana’s nuclear programme. Hon. Buah urged the Board to collaborate with MEST, local authorities and other relevant state agencies to implement measures to secure and protect these lands for posterity.

“In carrying out your functmanagement andge you to strengthen research collaborations, promote innovation in the peaceful applications of nuclear technology in areas such as health, agriculture, industry and environmental management, and ensure that GAEC continues to be a centre of excellence in nuclear science and technology on the African continent,” he added.

The Board Chair, Prof. Abdulai Baba Salifu, in an acceptance speech on behalf of all the members thanked the President of Ghana for the opportunity to serve and promised to work hard to enable GAEC achieve all set objectives.

The Professor promised that he and the team will work hard to establish a health facility specializing in using nuclear technologies to treat non communicable diseases. He also promised to support the Commission to establish a nuclear power plant to augment Ghana’s energy sources.

Some Management and staff of GAEC present at the programme were the Deputy Director General, Prof. Francis Hasford, Director of Administration, Mr. William Srekumah, Deputy Director of Finance, Mr. Eli Aniabo, Director of the Radiological and Medical Sciences Research Institute, Dr. Theodosia Adom, Head of Legal Affairs, Madam Susana Nyarkoa Addo, representatives of the Commercialization and Communication Directorate, Dr. Mark Kwasi Sarfo, and Mr. Joshua Yeboah.

By; CPRC/CCD

The 11th International Symposium on Naturally Occurring Radioactive Material was held at the Mensvic Hotel in Accra with a focus on planet-friendly solutions in the extractive industry.

The event was under the chairmanship of the Director General of the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission (GAEC) and President of NORM XI, Prof. Samuel Boakye Dampare, and was on the theme, “Broadening Optimization in Industrial Processes Involving NORM: A focus on Sustainability in Extractive Industries.”

Ghana is the first Sub-Saharan African country to host an International Symposium on Naturally Occurring Radioactive Material, and marks a significant milestone for the country, positioning it as a global leader in the application and use of NORM for research and development.

The five-day event had experts from around the globe congregating in Ghana to participate and was also graced with the presence of the Deputy Minister for Lands and Natural Resources and Member of Parliament for the Bole-Bamboi Constituency, Hon. Alhaji Yusif Sulemana. He came to represent his boss, the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources and Ag. Minister of the Ministry of Environment Science and Technology, Hon. Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, who is also the Member of Parliament for the Ellembelle Constituency.

In a keynote address, read on behalf of Hon. Buah, he emphasized Ghana’s growing role as a hub for nuclear science and technology in Africa, highlighting the country’s commitment to environmental stewardship and radiation safety.

He noted that NORM are encountered in several key sectors in Ghana, including mining, oil and gas, phosphate manufacturing, cement production, and water treatment.

“While these industries fuel our economy, they also pose environmental and health challenges that require our collective vigilance, innovation, and responsibility,” he stated.

He indicated that the government of Ghana remains firmly committed to supporting research, innovation, and regulation in the nuclear field.

“We will continue to work closely with our international partners, including the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), to strengthen Ghana’s capacity in radiation safety and environmental management,” he added.

He encouraged participants to use the moment to strengthen collaborations, build partnerships, and reaffirm shared responsibilities of ensuring that the benefits of industrial development are achieved without compromising the health and safety of people or the integrity of the environment.

Prof. Dampare also welcomed the participants, reflecting on the evolution of NORM symposia since its inception in Amsterdam, Netherlands, in 1997. He praised the collaborative efforts of GAEC, the Ghana Association for Radiation Protection (GARP), the African ALARA Network (AFAN), and the Nuclear Regulatory Authority (NRA), as well as international partners such as the IAEA, ICRP, ILO, IRPA, and UNSCEAR.
“This symposium marks a milestone not only for Ghana but for the entire region. It is a testament to our shared commitment to optimizing industrial processes while safeguarding human health and the environment,” he added.

He observed a minute’s silence, marking a solemn moment during his speech, as a tribute to the late former Minister for Environment, Science, and Technology, Hon. Alhaji Dr. Ibrahim Murtala Muhammed, who tragically passed away earlier this year, for his support for Ghana’s hosting of NORM XISymposium.

Prof. Dampare expressed his sincere gratitude to the NORM XI Symposium Board, Steering Committee, Local Organising Committee, Scientific Programme Committee, and the invaluable contributions of some private sector sponsors for making this programme a reality. “History will remember your dedication, support, and excellence,” he said.

By: CPRC/CCD