By: Thykingdom Kudesey
A team of Nuclear Scientists from Kenya to Ghana have loaded Ghana’s political will to support the Nuclear Power Programme as part of efforts to ensure access to affordable, sustainable and modern energy.
The 9 member delegation that paid a scientific visit to the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission (GAEC) represented various Kenyan institutions including Kenya Agricultural and Livestock Research Organisation (KALRO), Kenya Nuclear Electricity Board (KNEB), Kenyatta University (KU), Kenya bureau Board (KeBS), Kenya Industrial Research Development Institute (KIRDS) and the National Commission for Science Technology and Innovations (NACOTI).
The visit was under the RAF: 0047 initiative by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) which is aimed at “Promoting sustainability and networking of National Nuclear Institutes for development.”
In a report presented to the Commission after a week of training, the team of scientists commended GAEC for developing a good roadmap for Ghana’s Nuclear Power Programme. They expressed joy at the political will and Government’s support towards ensuring access to affordable, sustainable and modern energy as per goal 7 of the 17 Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) adopted by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA).
It further commended GAEC for employing young and vibrant scientists to manage the Nuclear Power Institute (NPI).
The report acknowledged that, GAEC’s Sustainable Action Plan (SAP) addresses all field of nuclear science under the Commission unlike Kenya where management of different areas of application of Nuclear Science and Technology is not linked directly to NACOSTI.
The establishment of the Nuclear Regulatory Authority (NRA) as an independent supervisory body was also captured in the report. It stressed that, this has helped in the development of an Action Plan based on the Nuclear Regulatory Act to prepare and circulate the required regulations and guidelines for nuclear applications.
“NRA has ratified several key treaties dealing with nuclear security, safety and safeguards” it stated.
The finally recommended that GAEC establishes an exchange visit with partner countries including Kenya, to learn or share experiences on nuclear application and strengthen collaboration initiatives.
It advised the commission to patent innovations and technologies generated prior to publishing and dissemination
The report also called for the need to create collaborations to maximize the use of human and infrastructural resources available at GAEC.
