The Ghana Atomic Energy Commission held a Thanksgiving Service to climax its yearlong anniversary celebration in Accra.
The service was on the theme; “60 Years of Impacting Society through Nuclear Science and Technology – Expanding Our Frontiers” and sought to highlight GAEC’s contributions to national development through nuclear science and related technologies.
In his speech, the Board Chaiman of GAEC, Dr. Kwaku Aning, recounted the vision of the first President of Ghana to establish an institution of excellence, leading in research, development and innovation with the application of nuclear sciences and allied technologies to solve the many socio-economic challenges facing Ghana.
“Today, we celebrate the legacy of the foresight, determination, and the belief of our forebears”, he added.
Dr. Aning enumerated the many significant achievements GAEC Scientists and Technologists have chalked from healthcare and nutrition, food and agriculture, environmental resource management, etc., that have not only shaped society but also had a profound impact on the development of our nation and the sub-region.
“As we reflect on our journey, it is apt that we remember the pioneering spirit of those who laid the foundation of this institution and the many others who came after them. The road has not been easy. There were skeptics who questioned the potential of nuclear science in a newly independent and developing country. However, despite the challenging times especially in the 70s and 80s, through perseverance and a commitment to excellence, we have turned those early doubts into triumphs”, he stated.
He indicated that GAEC stood as a beacon of scientific achievement and a symbol of progress for the global South – leading, coordinating and fostering Technical Cooperation under the auspices of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA), in nuclear sciences in the Africa region.
“We have made significant contributions to the peaceful use of nuclear energy for power generation, medical advancements, agriculture, and environmental protection through research and development, innovation and technology transfer” he revealed.
Dr Aning recounted the Commission’s work that led to advancements in nuclear medicine, contributing to the diagnoses and treatment of diseases such as cancer in Ghana. He also mentioned works in agriculture that helped increase crop yields, ensuring food security in the country.
“Through research in GAEC, several lives have been saved and has also led to the empowerment of healthcare providers with the tools they need to tackle some of the most pressing health challenges of our time”, he said.
He charged GAEC researchers to be at the forefront of nuclear research, focusing on the advancement of safe, sustainable, and innovative solutions while building partnerships with international organizations, governments, and industry leaders to ensure that research churned out in GAEC has a lasting impact.
“Distinguished guests, as we celebrate our successes, we must also look ahead. The next sixty years will undoubtedly present new challenges — at the global, regional and national levels. The rapidly evolving landscape of nuclear technology, the growing demand for clean energy, issues with food and nutrition and the increasing need for collaboration in tackling global challenges such as climate change and public health require us to remain adaptable, innovative, and committed to the highest standards of research and development” he added.
The Director General of the Commission, Prof Samuel Boakye Dampare, in his address reiterated the accomplishments of GAEC throughout the years and indicated that there was more room for improvement. “With increased resources, we can extend the positive impact of nuclear science to various sectors of national life”, he added.
Prof Dampare opined that in order to attract and retain top talent in this highly specialized field of nuclear science and related technologies, it was crucial to improve working conditions. This he said would help address the brain-drain and high attrition rates that have affected staff lately.
“To address some of these issues, Management launched the GAEC Development Fund this year as part of the anniversary celebrations to enhance equipment and infrastructure, creating a more conducive working environment for staff. We also plan to leverage information communication technology, big data, artificial intelligence, and machine learning to support our work moving forward”, he revealed
He urged the government of Ghana to increase its spending on research and development (R&D) to at least 1% of GDP, as recommended by the African Union (AU) and also invited corporate institutions to invest in credible scientific bodies like GAEC to help develop homegrown solutions to national challenges, using nuclear science and related technologies.
“I challenge us to work hard and ensure that we leave a better GAEC for the next generation. This is a sacred duty we owe not only to Ghana but to Africa”, he said.
The Director General was thankful to God for His help in allowing GAEC to impact society through nuclear science and technology. He also thanked stakeholders and benefactors – local and international, especially the Government of Ghana and the International Atomic energy Agency (IAEA) for keeping faith and continuously collaborating with GAEC with all her activities throughout the years.
Lastly, he extended his sincere gratitude to all those who once worked at GAEC, whether in Management or as staff, for their invaluable contributions to the success of the commission.
The Assistant Parish Priest of St. Patrick Catholic Church, Atomic, Rev. Fr. Anthony Sefogah, who gave the sermon for the day encouraged staff to see themselves as the embodiment of GAEC. He charged staff to adopt a strong sense of patriotism to help build GAEC for the next generation.
The program brought together representatives from sister organizations, financial institutions, religious leaders, GAEC pensioners association as well as Management and Staff of GAEC.
BY: CPRC/CCD
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