By Stephen Asante
Accra, March 19, GNA – The Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA), a Ghanaian-based public policy think tank, is advancing policy discussions to build momentum for the nation’s nuclear power programme.
This is to ensure that the nuclear power project progresses in line with international standards, national development priorities and the broader interest of the people.
In 2012, Ghana formalised its nuclear programme intention, establishing the Ghana Nuclear Power Programme Organisation to oversee infrastructure development, and aligning with the International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) infrastructural milestone approach.
Dr Archibold Buah-Kwofie, Director of the Nuclear Power Institute (NPI) of the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission, addressing a roundtable of policymakers, scientists, technocrats, and researchers, in Accra, organised by the IEA, said the feasibility of nuclear energy was rapidly evolving.
“We see globally that there is an increasing desire for countries to tap into nuclear.
“It is also the best alternative that can accelerate our industrial development and growth economically,” he noted, adding that no country had industrialised on renewables alone.
Solar and wind were intermittent and could not serve baseload needs of the nation, he explained, saying recent studies showed that nuclear was very complementary to renewables in developing a green-based energy system.
In reference to countries that had shown interest in tapping into nuclear as a source of energy, he said Ghana should take a cue from South Korea which had made significant strides in its nuclear energy investment driven by the need for energy security and climate commitments.
The Asian economic powerhouse is striving to boost its nuclear energy industry with a goal to build 10 new nuclear plants by 2030 as part of a broader strategy to strengthen the country’s resilience and competitiveness in the global nuclear market.
In contrast, a roadmap by the Nuclear Power Ghana outlines a plan to have a 1 GW nuclear power plant installed by 2030 to diversify the sources of electricity.
Dr Buah-Kwofie, whose presentation highlighted the status of Ghana’s nuclear power programme and projects, said while scaling up investment in renewable energy technologies, it was imperative to ensure the costs and benefits of nuclear, and renewables were fully considered in power system planning processes.
“Energy is fundamental to almost everything that we do, therefore, we need to get our priorities right,” he advised.
The NPI Director hinted that the country had reached Phase Two of the nuclear power development project in line with the IAEA’s milestone approach, focusing on grid capacity, institutional capacity, financing, and site procurement.
In 2015, Ghana applied for the IAEA’s Integrated Infrastructure Review and transitioned to Phase Two in 2019. Currently, site characterisation and evaluation are pending, which would move the country to Phase Three.
The milestone approach is an internationally recognised framework by which newcomer countries undergo rigorous scrutiny before embarking on an atomic energy programme.
Professor David Okoh Kpeglo, Vice Dean, School of Nuclear and Allied Sciences of the University of Ghana (UG), Legon, who chaired the roundtable, lauded the IEA for its policy dialogue initiative, dubbed ‘Nuclear Energy Programme’.
He expressed the hope that it would aid discussions on building a resilient system for the development of nuclear power as part of the nation’s future energy mix.
The Programme, being implemented under the IEA’s Nuclear Energy Centre of Excellence, aims to identify the challenges that remain, and the priority actions required to maintain progress towards achieving nuclear power development.
Ghana has since independence in 1957, nurtured the ambition of developing nuclear programme for industrialisation purposes, with successive governments exploring different financing options and funding models, including export credits, commercial loans, bonds, and equity investment.
The agenda is that the establishment of nuclear power plants would reduce reliance on fossil fuels, improve the economy, sustain industrialisation, promote technological advancement, and enhance access to electricity.
Financing new nuclear investment is challenging for any country. Ghana has been negotiating with several vendor countries, but increased geopolitical risks and the county’s financial situation has substantially affected the costs and risks of Ghana’s nuclear plans.
Ghana faces some technical challenges in its nuclear journey, including grid capacity limitations and uncertainties around which nuclear technologies to adopt.
Dr Charles Mensa, the Board Chairman, IEA, said the Nuclear Energy Programme, officially launched on the sideline of the roundtable, would contribute to strengthening public understanding of nuclear energy.
The IEA, he said, was committed to continued dialogue on the policy, technical, and governance issues associated with nuclear power development.
The programme was on the theme, “Powering Ghana’s Industrial Future: the Role of Nuclear Energy in Energy Security and Sustainable Development”, and brought together key stakeholders from the nuclear sector, research institutions, policy circles and corporate institutions.
GNA
19 March 2026
Edited by Samuel Osei-Frempong