The Ghana Atomic Energy Commission (GAEC) has tested the readiness of its security personnel to respond to potential security breaches at its nuclear installations as part of efforts to strengthen the Commission’s nuclear security architecture.
The two-day exercise, dubbed the Alarm Response Limited Scope Performance Test (AR-LSPT 2026), is designed to assess the effectiveness of existing response arrangements, identify gaps and strengthen the Commission’s capacity to respond to security incidents.
The exercise, which began yesterday at the GAEC reactor site, brought together security personnel and other staff with designated roles in the Commission’s security and emergency response arrangements for briefings, table discussions and field exercises based on simulated security scenarios.
The first day focused on an overview of the exercise, its objectives and participants’ roles and responsibilities, followed by discussions and practical exercises based on two simulated scenarios at designated staging areas.
The second day is expected to focus on evaluation, with personnel from the Office of Radiological Safety (ORS) of the United States Department of Energy (USDOE) serving as evaluators and providing feedback on the performance of the personnel, response arrangements and supporting systems.
Speaking on the exercise, the Director of the Radiation Protection Institute of GAEC, Dr. Eric Glover, said it formed part of broader support to strengthen the Commission’s security architecture through improvements in access control, closed-circuit television systems, alarm systems and radio communication equipment, among other measures.
He explained that the exercise provided an opportunity to assess not only personnel readiness but also the effectiveness of the equipment, logistics and coordination among personnel performing different roles during a security incident.
According to him, the exercise was the first of its kind to be conducted at the Commission and would help identify areas requiring improvement while ensuring that established procedures remained effective.
He said the exercise would also contribute to strengthening security procedures, addressing gaps, building a strong security culture and improving the Commission’s preparedness to manage potential crises and other eventualities.
The Head of GAEC Security, Capt. (Rtd.) Kwaku Osei-Akoto Jnr., said the exercise was intended to test the ability of security personnel to respond effectively to future eventualities.
Briefing participants at the start of the exercise, he outlined key objectives, including assessing response performance from the receipt of an alarm through to the appropriate containment and resolution of a simulated incident, evaluating alarm-handling and communication arrangements, testing the effectiveness of response procedures and equipment, and identifying gaps requiring remedial action.
He explained that the exercise involved personnel assigned to alarm monitoring and communication, on-site security and facility management, with each group expected to perform its designated responsibilities in accordance with established procedures.
The exercise is expected to provide GAEC with an independent assessment of its security preparedness and help strengthen coordination, procedures and response capabilities.
The initiative forms part of the Commission’s continuing efforts to maintain a robust nuclear security culture and ensure that its nuclear and radiological facilities are operated within a strong framework of safety, security and emergency preparedness.
By: CPRC/CCD
