Positions for the International Atomic Energy Agency

The Republic of Ghana

Positions for the International Atomic Energy Agency

1. Enhancing Safety and Security Standards of Nuclear Power Facilities

“Almost every problem facing a developing nation is also an energy problem: agriculture, health, education, lack of productive industries for economic growth”said B.J.B Nyarko, Director General of the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission. In an address to the Opening Ceremony of Ghana’s Phase 1 Integrated Nuclear Infrastructure Review (INIR). Director Nyarko noted that a large number of people in Sub Saharan Africa do not have access to sustainable, reliable, and cost-efficient energy sources.

The Republic of Ghana has witnessed a growing demand for energy amidst rapid industrialization and infrastructural development. Moreover, the Institute of Social Statistics and Economic Research (ISSER) in 2014 study suggested that power outages from 2012 to 2016 cost our country approximately $2.1 Million in employment and production output. Developing countries globally are transitioning to nuclear energy in an effort to address similar socioeconomic concerns. However, development is always accompanied with heightened levels of responsibility.

Our country has historically placed safety and security at the forefront of our nuclear energy efforts. In 1961 The Republic of Ghana initiated the Ghana Nuclear Reactor Project (GNRP) in an effort to promote the peaceful application of nuclear energy for national development purposes. Shortly thereafter The Republic of Ghana established The Atomic Energy Commission Act in 1963 to ensure that the introduction of nuclear energy would occur responsible with appropriate regulatory measures. In 1993, an amendment to this act ensured that over 1,000 radiation workers were monitored for radiation exposure and enforcement requirements while engaging in trainings of nuclear facility safety culture.

For the past twenty-two years, the Republic of Ghana has safely operated its research reactor, GHAAR-1, in partnership with China. At the inauguration of the research reactor the Director General of the IAEA stated that Ghana had “possibly the best equipped Secondary Standards Dosimetry Lab in Sub Saharan Africa.” This SSD Lab played a critical role in detecting radiation at a wide range of nuclear facilities. Moreover, we are one of the first of five countries with a reactor to transition from high risk uranium to low risk uranium for the sustainable application of nuclear energy.

The Republic of Ghana has worked endlessly with the International Atomic Energy Agency to ensure that its transition to nuclear energy meets all safety and security regulations. Between 1968 and 1995, the IAEA provided roughly 8 Million USD towards the development and research of nuclear technologies. Moreover, The School of Nuclear and Allied Sciences of Ghana is an IAEA designated center of excellence. The maintenance of Nuclear Power Facilities is of critical importance to the future sustainable development of nuclear technologies, particularly in developing countries.

The Republic of Ghana believes that at the forefront of our safety and security efforts were the domestic and regional research efforts. As such, we call for the development of endowments for country research facilities in order to cultivate the education and training capacities of member states. By collaborating in training and educating member states in the process of developing sustainable nuclear capabilities, we can ensure that we are effectively transmitting the established safety and security standards across borders.

1. Developing Solutions and Promoting Cooperation for the Disposal of Nuclear Waste

The Republic of Ghana has peacefully, sustainably development of atomic energy for the past four decades. While the assumption of nuclear capabilities provide a number of socioeconomic benefits to developing nations, oftentimes this development occurs at the expense of the health and livelihoods of citizens. If nuclear waste is not properly disposed of, countries are at risk of water and soil contamination. Infiltration in ground systems could lead to widespread, cross-border ecological damage. As such, it is imperative that we engage in a collaborative effort to address the nuclear waste disposal.

The Republic of Ghana has made a number of efforts to ensure that it is consistently improving the management of nuclear waste. The Ghana Atomic Energy Act of 1963 and the Radiation Protection Instrument of 1993 allowed our country to make strides toward the management of waste. Moreover, the amendment of the Atomic Energy Act allowed for our country to establish a radioactive waste management enter to take care of all of the waste in the country. The Highlight of a recent Memorandum of Agreement for the construction of a Nuclear Power Plant in our country, is the comprehensive set of safety standards which include specific staff training mechanisms and a Radioactive Waste Management Strategy.

In addition to supporting domestic efforts to address the maintenance and proper disposal of nuclear wastes, our country has played an active role in fortifying relationships with other African nations to ensure that the region is at the forefront of meeting the safety standards required in the application of nuclear technologies. The Republic of Ghana readily supports the IAEA’s mission of broadening the global scope of nuclear power in a safe and effective manner, and believes that developing nations can benefit from the knowledge of other nations already reaping the rewards of nuclear technology, as well from various international bodies of experts/

In January 2017, The Republic of Ghana requested an Integrated Nuclear Infrastructure Review (INIR) by the International Atomic Energy Agency in order to prepare our government to make informed decisions on investing in nuclear power by 2018. This group consisted of a collaborative organization of experts from Germany, Morocco, South Africa, and the UK. This review proved to be invaluable in our efforts to ensure that our development met proper safety standards. As such, we call for the development of incentives for developing countries seeking to develop their nuclear capabilities to undergo INIR reviews. This will ensure that the IAEA can provide guides for the management of nuclear waste prior to the development of vast nuclear facilities in developing nations. We believe that collaboration and education are the most effective tools to ensure that the development of nuclear capabilities globally are accompanied by a commitment to safety and environmental sustainability.