Administrator

A Senior Scientist at the Accelerator Research Center of GAEC, Dr. Amos Forson has stated that data from his research on the origin of the people of Wenchi buttresses their long-held belief that their ancestors came from a hole.

He made this comment at the maiden edition of the GAEC Seminar Series held on Tuesday, February 25, 2020.

Dr. Forson revealed that contrary to the written history about the origin of his people, scientific evidence proves otherwise. “Their history as was mostly written by the Europeans indicates that they migrated from Middle Niger in the 17^th century and settled at Bonoso before relocating to their current location, Wenchi. However, results from radiometric dating from the Bonoso Site suggest that the people inhabited that land long (about 400 years) before then.”, he said.

He specifically stated that the results showed that the Bonoso Archaeological Site was inhabited continuously for about 500 years, 610AD (7^th century) to 1160AD (12 century) and therefore rejects the Scholarly assertions that Bonoso was just occupied in the 17^th Century. “Western-written documentation on Ghana’s past has superficial time-depth going only as far back as the fifteenth century AD”, he added.

He was giving a presentation on “The Vital Role and Application of Accelerator-Based Techniques in Archaeology and Cultural Heritage Research for the Development of Archaeo-Tourism Industry in Ghana for National Development”

Dr. Forson stated that Ghana has a high number of excellent and very rich cultural heritage and several historic and archaeological sites, as well as valuable assets. These he said have potentials of becoming major educational and Archaeo-tourists attractions in the country when developed and preserved. “But this is not so”, he lamented.

He said that stakeholders have a huge task of correcting our negative image and providing an authentic reconstruction of past heritage for the development of Ghana’s Archaeological tourism (Archaeo-tourism). “This can be achieved through promoting public interest in archaeology and the conservation of historical and archaeological sites, museums, monuments, Palaces, interpretation centers, etc.”, he added.

He urged that there is an urgent need for the application of appropriate scientific technique(s), to investigate Valuable Heritage materials, potential Archaeological sites, and artifacts.

Cultural heritage studies involve the investigation and analyses of cultural heritage materials such as inorganic (eg; Pottery, beads) and Organic materials (eg; Bones, Charcoal paper, etc).

His work utilized an Accelerator ion Beam Analysis (IBA) and Accelerator Mass Spectrometry Radiocarbon Dating (AMS-¹⁴C Dating). Although there are other techniques mostly used for elemental characterization of Archaeological materials, such as Atomic Absorption Spectrometry (AAS), X-Ray Fluorescence (XRF), Inductively Coupled Plasma-Optical Emission (ICP-OES), Inductively Coupled Plasma-Mass Spectrometry (ICP-MS), Instrumental Neutron Activation Analysis (INAA) and Laser Ablation (LA), accelerator-based techniques in recent times have been the most successfully applied technology in the field of Cultural Heritage studies.

The Seminar series is a Ghana Atomic Energy Commission monthly presentation session on scientific findings and innovations and their relation to the socio-economic development of Ghana.

By: Office of Cooperate and Public Affairs, GAEC

“Estimates of Age-Standardized ratios of cervical cancer prevalence for Ghana (35.4), are higher than those of Benin (29.0), Burkina Faso (23.3) and Cote d’Ivoire (21.7)”.

A revelation made by Dr. Adolf Kofi Awua, a Senior Research Scientist at the Cellular and Clinical Research Centre of GAEC. He made this statement during his presentation at the February edition of the GAEC monthly Seminar series.

His presentation on the topic, “A tailored within-Community Specimen Collection Strategy Increased Uptake of Cervical Cancer Screening and the Detection of non-Vaccine-type HPV in a Cross-Sectional Study in Ghana”, focused on risk factors, screening, preventive measures and prevalence rates among others.

He indicated that when it comes to cervical cancer prevention, there are three types of Vaccines against the sexually-transmitted Human Papilloma Virus (HPV) – the causative agent. “It also takes a long time (about 15 years) before the severe form of the disease develops”, he added

According to Dr. Awua, pre-cancer lesions are detectable using effective screening tools, and early detection means the disease can be completely cured. He added that cervical cancer is the most preventable of all cancers. “While some countries are working towards Elimination Programmes, Ghana still doesn’t have a Control nor a Prevention Programme”, he lamented.

He opined that Ghana does not have a cancer prevention programme, most probably due to the constant habit of officials acting only when there is an observable large effect of disease among the population.

Again, he indicated that low levels of knowledge and understanding limit the populace from taking appropriate actions until it is too late. “Without a cervical cancer prevention programme, Ghana will continue to see cervical cancer cases at the late stages of the disease at our treatment centres and each death due to cervical cancer in Ghana is a tragedy that should have been prevented”, he cautioned.

In her closing remarks, the chairperson of the programme, Prof. Mary Boadu, who is also the Director of the Radiological and Medical Sciences Research Institute, added that treatment of cervical cancer is very expensive and a better way is to prevent it from developing in the first place. “There is, therefore, the need for increased preventive awareness creation and expansion of facilities to cater to Ghana and the subregion”, she added.

She thanked the organizers and other participants for coming in their numbers and making the programme a success. Present at the seminar were Research Scientists, Technologists, Administrators and other Staff of GAEC.

By: Office of Cooperate and Public Affairs, GAEC

The Deputy Director General of Ghana Atomic Energy Commission (GAEC), Prof. Shiloh Osae, on Tuesday June 4, 2019 welcomed the 5th batch of informal sector apprentices to undergo a Competency Based Training (CBT) programme in Consumer Electronics at GAEC.

The training programme is jointly sponsored by the Germany Government through the Ghana Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) Voucher Project (GTVP) and Council for Technical and Vocational Education (COTVET) in partnership with GAEC.

In his welcome address, Prof. Osae, assured the learners that GAEC is not a bomb manufacturing organization, but a government agency involved with the use of nuclear technology for the socio-economic development of Ghana.

He enumerated the various specialty areas available in GAEC including; Agriculture, Health, Space Science, Nuclear Power, specialized Research areas, Industrial applications, among others. “Our Scientists here work tirelessly to bring about new crop varieties, new ways of treating diseases, testing for water quality, environmental issues, the list is endless”, he added.

Prof. Osae was optimistic that the learners will take their studies seriously. “If you are able to complete the various courses and modules, you will obtain certificates that will enable you have job opportunities in big organizations. The consumer electronics industry sectors are all available to you”, he revealed.

A representative from GVTP, Mr. Isaac Boaten indicated that this programme is designed to equip those in the informal sector with literacy skills as well as sharpening their skills in their various vocations.

The Manager of the Technology Transfer and Marketing Center, Ms. Sheila Frimpong also encouraged the learners to be serious and be punctual as well as regular for classes. “You won’t get this anywhere, coming to acquire new skills, and on top of it, being given lunch and transportation every day. You must take full advantage of this golden opportunity given you”, she advised.

The programme was attended by representatives from GAEC including the Deputy Director of Administration, Mr. William Srekumah, The Human Resource Manager, Mr. Maxwell Nyarko and the Manager for Office of Corporate and Public Affairs, Mr. Mark Kwasi Sarfo. Also present were representatives from COTVET and executives of the Ghana Electronics Servicing Technicians Association.

By OCPA

The Deputy Minister of Environment Science Technology and Innovation and MP for Asokwa constituency, Hon. Patricia Appiagyei on Friday June 7, 2019 inaugurated the newly formed GAEC Ladies Association, at the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission Auditorium in Accra.

The theme for the event was “Harnessing the Power of Synergy among Women to promote GAEC Agenda”.

Delivering the inaugural address, the Dep. Minister was extremely grateful to the leadership of the GAEC Ladies Association and Management of GAEC for the invitation.

She stated that GAEC’s Vision and Mission, positions the Commission to become the leading organization contributing to sustainable national prosperity through the effective utilization of nuclear, biotechnology and other related technologies, but this cannot be achieved without the contribution of women.

“There have been women engagements in various fields of expertise within the Commission including research, technical, administration and others”, she added.

Hon. Appiagyei lamented that although there is increasing gender diversity compared to two decades ago, she believes that more can be done to achieve great milestones as women. “Currently only one out of the ten Directors within the Commission is a woman. This observation is worse that the McKinsey 2018 ‘Women in Work’ report, where only one in five women make it to the C-Suite and the crucial gaps in the talent pipeline”, she revealed.

“The Ghana Atomic Energy Commission at 56 years has entered a new era of corporate development with responsiveness towards United Nations Global Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs)”, she charged.

She opined that in this new era, GAEC Management in responding to SDG 5 on achieving gender equality and empowering all women and girls, should eschew all forms of discrimination, violence and undertake reforms to give women equal rights to economic resources among others.

She advised all the ladies to do away with the toxic culture of fear, uncertainty and self-interest. “There should exist a new culture where women support each other and develop their careers through hard work, dedication and integrity”, she encouraged.

Delivering a statement in solidarity with the women, the Director General of GAEC, Prof BJB Nyarko was glad for the formation of the association. “This will empower ladies in the Commission and is in line with the International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) agenda to increase women Staff at the top management of the Agency”, he said.

The Director General was mindful of the cost implications on personal lives of women who pursue greater career development and higher qualifications on the academic ladder.

He lamented on the low numbers of women in the core nuclear sciences. “Our current Staff strength is 890, down from 1030 a few years ago, mainly due non-replacement of retiring Staff. Out of this number, 271 representing 30% are women, but majority of this number are at GAEC hospital and the Basic School. Also, in 2019, out of a total of 233 Research Scientists, only 52 are females and out of 106 Technologists, only 16 are females, he enumerated.

The president of the GAEC Ladies Association and Director of the Radiological and Medical Sciences Research Institute, Prof Mary Boadu, in in her welcome address said the association was created in order to help organize female Staff of the Commission and ensure their active involvement in GAEC’s agenda and programmes in order to promote the development of women as a whole.

Also present at the inauguration were the Board Chairman of GAEC, Dr. Kweku Aning, the Chief Director of MESTI who doubles as a Board member of GAEC, Mrs. Levina Owusu, former Director General, Prof. J.H. Amoasi, Former Deputy Director General, Prof. Mrs. Victoria Appiah, Deputy Director General of GAEC, Prof. Shiloh Osae, Directors of Institute, Ghanaian ace broadcaster, Oheneyere Gifty Anti, Ghanaian musician and motivational speaker, Akosua Agyapong, representatives of GBC Ladies Association and the representative of the CEO of Cocobod, Madamme Agness Owusu Ansah.

Popular Ghanaian Journalist and Broadcaster, Oheneyere Gifty Anti, encouraged Ghana Atomic Energy Commission (GAEC) ladies, at the inauguration of the GAEC Ladies Association on June 7, 2019, to strive for higher heights regardless of limitations imposed on them.

In her remarks at the ceremony, she said that the association is coming at a dicey time in Ghana where the gender fraternity is divided on some comments made by the President of the nation, H.E. Nana Addo Danquah Akuffu-Addo. “we need to do something to make our impact felt and clear all doubts in the minds of people”, she stated.

She hinted that the women need to employ the power of synergy which is a binding force that leaves no room for divisions. “It will be difficult to maintain women groups, but it is possible”, she added.

Ohene Yere revealed that women have to juggle between domestic and professional duties and are still required to produce the same results as their male counterparts. “Just at the time that you have to go for a programme, the baby starts to cry, do you do a quick breastfeeding or leave for the meeting, knowing that the nanny will have a difficult day if you don’t”, she asked.

She was very grateful to the Deputy Minister of Environment Science Technology and Innovation, Hon. Patricia Appiagyei, for imparting some life lessons into her when as a journalist she interviewed the Minister some years ago.

She concluded by stating that when there are challenging times, GAEC Ladies Association should not be afraid to ask for help and counsel. “We are all here to help”, she reassured.

The Managing Director of Bajfreight and Logistics Limited, Mr. Eric Kofi Owusu, has praised the role of the Radiation Protection Institute (RPI) of the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission (GAEC) in the training of occupationally exposed persons on how to protect themselves from the potential harmful effects of radiations and radioactive materials.

He made these remarks at the closing ceremony of a 3-day refresher training programme held at RPI, GAEC from May 13-15 2019, to train members of his Staff on Occupational Radiation Protection and Safety during transport of radioactive materials.

The course objectives among others were to equip the workers with basic radiation physics and adequately informing them of the effects of ionizing radiations. It was also aimed at teaching the workers on the possible health hazards associated with radiation and radioactive substances and training them on the basic principles of radiation protection and how they can apply them in their work environment and also during transportation.

Mr. Owusu opined that due to the potential hazards that radioactive sources pose to the workers and the public, during transportation of radioactive materials from one point to the other, it was essential that his team’s capacity was built and brought up-to-speed with current trends in safely transporting radioactive materials.

He revealed that they have benefited greatly from these trainings and this session is the company’s third time. “The benefits have been immense because it served as a refresher course for some of us and has taught the new trainees among us on how to work safely during transportation of radioactive materials”, he added.

He encouraged other freight forwarding companies to follow their footsteps to train their staff on safe handling and transportation of radioactive materials to avoid penalties and sanctions as well as reducing unnecessary radiation exposure to the public and workers.

Dr. Francis Otoo, a Senior Research Scientist of RPI and a Facilitator of the training programme said the Institute, will continue to offer training to all end users of radiation sources as well as companies involved in the transport of radioactive materials. He also commended the Bajfreight Logistics Limited for availing themselves for the training. He expressed confidence that the knowledge acquired by the trainees would be put into practice in order to ensure safety and security in the transport of radioactive sources/materials.

By: OCPA, GAEC

He made this statement at the World Biodiversity Day celebration, held at the Academy of Arts and Sciences auditorium in Accra, on May 22, 2019.

This year’s celebration was on the theme: Promoting our Indigenous Foods and Medicines, a Catalyst for Achieving the Ghana beyond Aid Agenda

In his introductory statements at the panel discussion session of the programme, Dr. Osae said that as humans, we have the luxury of selecting from a myriad of flora and fauna as food and medicine, but we also have the responsibility of maintaining the ecological balance that exists in nature. “All life forms are interlinked and interdependent. Something may be eating one thing today but can itself be food for another tomorrow, and we have the responsibility to protect this food web,” he added.

He lamented that Ghanaians in particular have not cared much about our biodiversity. He indicated that the indiscriminate use of pesticides has ravaged the population of many of the indigenous beneficial insects found in Ghana and this can be catastrophic if care is not taken. “Without the insects, pollination of most crops may not take place and without pollination, fruits which bear the seeds for the next generation cannot be produced”, he explained.

Dr. Osae further stated that the invasion of foreign species such as the fall armyworm could be attributed to human practices that have made our region conducive to these pests. “It is our responsibility to safeguard our own biodiversity and to protect it from invasive species”, he said.

The programme was attended by the Minister and Directors of the Ministry Environment Science Technology and Innovation (MESTI), representatives from the Traditional Medicine Association, representatives from the agencies of MESTI including Ghana Atomic Energy Commission, Scientists involved with the protection of Ghanaian indigenous foods, members from the media, among others .

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The Minister of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation (MESTI), Prof Frimpong Boateng has lauded the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission (GAEC), saying its expertise in Welding Technology is outstanding.

The Minister made this remark on Monday May 21, 2018 at a workshop organized by his outfit on the establishment of the Ghana Innovation and Research Commercialization (GIRC) Center which was held at the Alisa Hotel in Accra.

Prof. Frimpong Boateng noted that GAEC has performed creditably in the welding work done at the National Radio-astronomy Observatory at Kuntunse, a suburb of Accra and hence deserves commendation.

He mentioned that some specialists of the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission had been trained in efficient welding technology in South Africa and was marveled at the work he saw at the National Radio-astronomy Observatory.

The Ghana Atomic Energy Commission however, has also been noted for its remarkable work on the fabrication of underground storage tanks and application of Non-Destructive Testing techniques for reputable companies like GOIL, Cummins Ghana Ltd, Micheletti Co. Ltd, etc.

He advised that a forum be organized for various crafts persons, associations and institutions whose main preoccupation is welding in order to address key challenges related to the profession.

Ms. Adelaide Asante, the Ag. Director of Science Technology and Innovation (STI) Directorate of the Ministry, also added that the Government of Ghana has taken an initiative to train welders in the informal sector in Competence Based Training which the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission is a Training Provider.

She urged all welding associations to grab this opportunity to train their members for certification and also for institutions capable of undertaking this project to register with COTVET to aid the Government of Ghana train more people in the informal sector.

By: Adjei Edmond Boahen, Technology Transfer and Marketing Centre (TTMC) – GAEC