The Ghana Atomic Energy Commission (GAEC) has appealed to regulators and players in the water industry not to ignore the mandatory water quality tests for the radiation status of water in the country.

This, the Commission said, would help avert any injury to the internal organs of consumers as a result of long-term exposure to radiological substances.

The Manager of the Environmental Radiation Protection Center of the Radiation Protection Institute of GAEC, Dr. Oscar Adukpo, in an interview, noted that radiation exists in the environment including water.

Dr. Adukpo said, for this reason, the government has come out with a radiological quality requirement in addition to other requirements for water quality tests.

“Therefore, the specific requirements under the radiological quality test are Gross Alpha and Gross Beta with a permissible range of 0.1Bq/L and 1.0B/L, respectively,’’ he added.

Dr. Adukpo cautioned that although these were low radiation levels, once they get into the body in appreciable volumes, they were injurious to human health.

“They decay and accumulate in the liver and other internal organs over a long period, causing damage and could result in cancer. It is therefore important to screen water for these radionuclides to make sure they are not above the acceptable range”, he noted.

Dr. Adukpo however, lamented that although the test was one of the requirements in addition to other requirements by Ghana Standard Authority (GSA), only a few water sachet and bottling companies ensure compliance.

“Some companies realizing the effect of radiation on humans, bring their water to be tested to ensure compliance” he disclosed.

By CPRC/CCD

The Ghana Atomic Energy Commission (GAEC) has reorganized and restructured some administrative offices to enhance efficiency and boost the commercialization of its nuclear technologies and other services.

The exercise involved the consolidation and realignment of about five different Offices which has given birth to a new office, called the Commercialization and Communication Directorate (CCD). The CCD has five Centers, namely; the Communication and Public Relations, Marketing, Technology Transfer and Innovation, Information and Communication Technology, and the Guesthouse and Hospitality Services Centers.

The Commission also elevated its Human Resource Department into a Directorate which now has four Centers to effectively manage employee’s capacity development and job performance within the Commission. The Centers are; Training and Development, Recruitment and Selection, Counseling, and Welfare and Pension Centers.

The Director-General of GAEC, Prof. Benjamin Jabez Botwe Nyarko, explained that the Commission undertook the restructuring exercise to bring to the doorstep of individuals and industries, the Commission’s solution-driven nuclear research that addresses societal problems, whiles, promoting the peaceful use of nuclear, biotechnology and other related technologies for the socio-economic development of the country.

He also noted that the CCD would aid in the promotion of commercialization to help generate income to support the activities of the Commission, whiles the Human Resource (HR) Directorate would boost the functionality of the HR personnel towards the effective management of employees, welfare and morale, among others.

By CPRC/CCD

A one-day orientation workshop has been organized for newly appointed Directors and Managers of the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission (GAEC).

The orientation which is part of the Commission’s anticipated new phase had participants from the recently restructured Human Resource and the Commercialization and Communication Directorates to enhance efficiency and boost the commercialization of its nuclear technologies and other services.

The Director-General of GAEC, Prof. Benjamin Jabez Botwe Nyarko, in brief remarks, encouraged participants to bring to bear, some positive change in their new roles; “transformation does not start with a multitude of people but an individual,” he stated.

Prof. Nyarko urged the Managers to contribute meaningfully to the cause of Management for the realization of the Commission’s objectives. He reminded them that their roles were performance-based.

He admonished the appointees to have the spirit of humility to learn from their subordinates, and also establish healthy working relationships with all Staff as well as orient themselves with the management structures and systems of the Commission.

He further congratulated them on their appointments and wished them well in their new endeavour. “I hope that what you learn today will bring the needed transformation through you and help achieve our objectives,” he added.

The topics treated at the workshop included, the Duties and Roles of the Director, Deputy Director and Manager Positions, Policies and Procedures/Change Management, Functions of Internal Audit, and Public Financial Management Reforms.

By CPRC/CCD

A three-day induction and orientation workshop has been organized for newly appointed Directors and Managers of some Institutes and Centers/Departments of the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission (GAEC).

The event which was held in the Council Chamber of the Commission was organized for 13 participants after a rigorous selection process.

The aim of the workshop was to sensitize the appointees on the basic administrative tenets, laws, and procedures needed to carry out their duties at their various Institutes and Centers/Departments.

In his welcome address, the Director-General, Prof B.J.B. Nyarko said that being appointed as a leader comes with some level of administrative work and that, it was important that they familiarize themselves with the basic administrative processes and procedures needed in carrying out their duties.

He appealed to the appointees to be humble in the discharge of their duties, promote teamwork, and establish healthy relationships with their subordinates.

He further advised them to orient themselves with rules and regulations guiding their scope of work and scheme of service.

“As you have occupied these positions, learn on the job and be friendly to your staff, and the people you are working with” he stated.

Prof. Nyarko thanked the Director of Administration and his team for organizing the workshop and noted that going forward, the entire staff of the Commission should benefit from such an initiative.

He congratulated them on their appointments to the various Institutes and Centers and wished them well in their new endeavor.

The topics treated at the three-day workshop included budget and imprest systems, corporate image building, effective leadership and management, business communication, and procurement procedures.

The rests were emotional intelligence and coping skills, bridging the gap between Institutes and Technology Transfer and Marketing Centre (TTMC), administrative processes and scheme of service, and understanding corporate strategic planning.

The resource persons for the three-day event were the Director of Administration, Mr. William Srekumah, the Director of Finance, Mr. Cyprian Basing, the Manager of Atomic Guesthouse, Mr. Essuman Kweku, Manager for the Office of Corporate and Public Affairs, Mr. Mark Sarfo, the Manager of Technology Transfer and Marketing Centre, Mrs. Sheila Frimpong, the Counseling Psychologist for the GAEC Hospital, Mrs. Mercy E. Amuasi, Head of Procurement, Mr. Paul Adika, Manager of Human Resource, Mr. Maxwell Nyarko and the Secretary to the GAEC corporate strategic plan committee, Mr. Richard Asare.

The Radiological and Medical Sciences Research Institute (RAMSRI) of the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission (GAEC) has presented personal protective equipment to three hospitals in Accra.

The gesture was done in collaboration with the Medical Physics Department of the School of Nuclear and Allied Sciences (University of Ghana) and the Physics Department of the University of Liverpool with the aim to help protect frontline workers against corona virus infection.

The hospitals, Ga East Municipal Hospital, GAEC Hospital and the University of Ghana Medical Centre (UGMC), at three separate ceremonies, took delivery of protective face shields and hand sanitizers.

Presenting the items on behalf of the Director General of GAEC, the Director of RAMSRI, Prof. Mary Boadu disclosed that, calls for identification of home-grown solutions in the fight of the COVID-19 pandemic necessitated the action by her outfit and supporting partners to undertake a project on the production of face shields for frontline health workers.

“Through the project, 3D printers were donated by the University of Liverpool to the partner institutions in Ghana to print face visors to support in the fight against COVID -19.” She was thankful to the University of Liverpool for their collaboration and singled out the efforts of Dr. Jon Taylor who is leading the project in the United Kingdom.

Prof. Boadu added that the sanitizers and reusable face shields were carefully produced to ensure the safety and comfort of users. She explained that, the shield can protect the pathways of viral entry, reduce the potential of the wearer from touching their face and serve as a reminder to maintain social distancing.

Receiving the items on behalf of Ga East Municipal Hospital, the Medical Superintendent Dr. Oduro Mensah was thankful to GAEC for the gesture. According to him, although number of active cases has been reducing, the COVID-19 infection cases may resurface, asking the general public to be cautious. He advised that the safety protocols are observed to avoided the spread of the virus.

The Medical Superintendent of GAEC Hospital, Dr. Anthony Quampah expressed gratitude at the gesture. He said, GAEC has remained generous at a period all donations have ceased. He expressed worry at how most patients have refused to seek professional medical care at the hospital due to corona virus scare. He urged Ghanaians to continue to seek professional medical care to avoid being misled by quacks.

Receiving the items on behalf of the University of Ghana Medical Centre, the Medical Director, Dr. Kwame Anim Boamah thanked GAEC for the donation and urged other institutions to continue to support since the virus is still in the system. He added that UGMC’s collaboration with GAEC will continue to greater heights.

By: GAEC Multimedia

Equipment worth about 100,000 euros were donated to the Ministry of Food and Agriculture by the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission (GAEC) on Tuesday to support the COVID-19 fight in the northern sector of Ghana.

This donation was done by GAEC on behalf of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) as part of efforts to reduce the spread of the disease from animals to humans.

Receiving the items on behalf of the Minister, the Chief Director of the Ministry. Mr. Patrick Robert Ankobea was thankful to GAEC and the IAEA for this immense support to Ghana to help fight the disease and to reduce animal to human transmission.

He was also particularly grateful to GAEC for the immense technological support to the Ministry, throughout their years of collaboration helping them deliver on their mandate.

Mr. Ankobea said that most people are not aware of the major support the Veterinary Services Directorate has played in the management of COVID-19 in Ghana. “Our role has been to assist in the testing of samples taken from humans to check the infection or otherwise of the population and we have been doing so with the Noguchi Memorial Institute” he revealed.

He added that an ultramodern facility donated by the Canadian government has been in use in the testing of suspected COVID-19 cases and this equipment from GAEC is going to help boost their capacity.

“We all know that the COVID-19 has created a lot of anxiety and Ghana is fortunate and adjudged one of the countries to have managed it very well. It is because of gestures like these from you that it has been possible, and we are happy that the equipment is going all the way to Pong Tamale in the Northern part of the country, having already catered for the southern side”, he stated.

The Director General of GAEC, Prof. BJB Nyarko, in a short statement indicated that as part of the IAEA’s quest to contain the pandemic, the agency has assisted hundreds of laboratories around the globe with this nuclear driven testing technique called Real Time Reverse Transcription Polymerase Chain Reaction (RTPCR). “The method is currently the fastest and most accurate for the detection of the SARS COVID 2 virus which is causing COVID 19”, he revealed.

Prof. Nyarko indicated that the equipment is capable of analyzing over 4,600 samples in a day. “This is the second time IAEA is donating this set of RTPCR COVID 19 testing equipment, accessories, quantities of consumables and other molecular biology reagents to the Ghana government and the people of Ghana” he added.

He further indicated that the first equipment was donated to the Ministry of Health and was taken to the University of Health and Allied Sciences in Ho.

“It is of interest to note that the donated equipment by the IAEA through the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission is worth over 100000.00 Euros. The other one to the Ministry of Health was about 98,000.00 Euros, so the two equipment is about 200,00.00 Euros” he said.

In his closing remarks, Prof Nyarko indicated that this donation by the IAEA is part of a project known as the Zoonotic Diseases Integrated Action (ZODIAC) initiative, launched in June, 2020. He opined that the main objective of the ZODIAC project is to support IAEA member states to prevent future pandemics resulting from the spill-over of pathogens from animals to human populations. “The ZODIAC initiative will help member states to rapidly detect and respond to outbreak of such diseases”, he revealed.

By Corporate Affairs, GAEC

The Biotechnology and Nuclear Agriculture Research Institute (BNARI) in partnership with the Creative and Multimedia Team (CMT) of the Technology Transfer and Marketing Centre (TTMC), both of the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission (GAEC), has initiated a project to promote research-proven practices in farming.

The move is targeted at reaching out to active and potential farmers to adopt effective, research-proven farming methods, beginning from seed handling to harvesting, including pest and disease management as well as postharvest processing of farm produce.

The project involves extensive video production of practical demonstrations of scientific activities at the BNARI in both field and laboratory by the CMT. Accordingly, Dr. Michael Osae, Director of BNARI, has outlined and recommended some commercially viable technologies which can benefit farmers enormously and improve their livelihoods. These including protein bait, cassava cultivation and radiation processing for postharvest management technologies.

Dr. Osae has further indicated that the current BNARI–CMT initiative will draw people’s attention to the in-depth research work carried out by his outfit to ensure standard and healthy farm practices. He is of the view that most unacceptable farm practices that result in poor yields and negative impact on the environment could be corrected through this project or initiative. He has added that BNARI will organise training programmes for interested persons who would seek further knowledge.

Ms. Sheila Frimpong, Manager of TTMC who doubles as the leader of CMT, has disclosed that the initiative will be replicated for every commercially viable technology available in all GAEC institutes. This, according to her, would help market the various technologies as a means of building new revenue streams or expanding the revenue sources of GAEC to support its activities and remain competitive.

Ms. Frimpong has hinted that there is a possibility of promoting the video contents on traditional media (e.g. television) aside the provisions made to carry out extensive promotions on all social media platforms.

By: GAEC Multimedia

The Ghana Atomic Energy Commission (GAEC) and CAMFED Ghana have officially signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) to train young women in technical and vocational skills.

This forms part of the Young Africa Works Strategy programme funded by the Mastercard Foundation and CAMFED Ghana with expectations to train a maximum of 3,250 young Ghanaian women.

CAMFED Ghana, a Non-governmental Organization (NGO) that was established in Ghana since 1998 has offered educational support to young girls in rural areas from basic to Tertiary school level across 12 regions of Ghana.

In a ceremony held at GAEC to seal the partnership, Mrs. Sally Ofori-Yeboah National Director for CAMFED said, the project’s primary objective is to empower deprived young women between the ages of 18 to 35 with work-readiness skills to be self-reliant. She added that, the trainees will be provided with start-up kits or seed fund to commence business after the training.

Mrs. Ofori-Yeboah explained that, modalities for selection requires research, interviews and other processes to identify the trade areas where females mostly require support. She is confident that the partnership with GAEC will yield a positive result. “After a thorough research and facility inspection, we found GEAC worthy to partner with on this project and we believe that with their high level of experience and expertise, the project will realise its objectives.

Prof. Dede Shiloh Osae, Deputy Director General of GAEC on his part said one of GAEC’s core objective is to offer training to persons of interest in various fields. He added that GAEC has in the past years engaged in collaborations with various local and international organizations in industry and academia to solve national issues using Nuclear Techniques.

He further assured that, the GAEC/CAMFED collaboration will live to expectation. “The doors of GAEC are widely opened for any form of Public Private Partnership that aims at national development”. He concluded.

Ms. Sheila Frompong, Manager of Technology Transfer and Marketing Centre (TTMC), GAEC in an interview disclosed that the programme will run for a period of three years and will adopt market-driven approach to science and technology research at GAEC through competency-based training to improve and empower young women for socio-economic development.

She finally called on deprived young women who are passionate about acquiring a Technical and Vocational skill to take advantage of the opportunity to become self -reliant.

By: GAEC Multimedia