By Albert Oppong-Ansah, GNA
Accra, Aug. 20, GNA – Ghana’s ability to achieve energy security, sustain industrial growth and reduce its dependence on imported fuels will largely depend on how quickly it can build a new generation of nuclear professionals, Dr John Abdulai Jinapor, the Minister of Energy and Green Transition, said on Wednesday.
He said nuclear energy would provide the stable, low-carbon power needed to support major industries, expand economic opportunities and strengthen the country’s position as an emerging energy hub in West Africa.
Addressing participants at the opening of the Third United States – Africa Nuclear Energy Summit in Accra, Dr Jinapor said while technology, financing and regulatory frameworks remained important, the success of any nuclear programme ultimately rested on the quality of its human resources.
The summit, which brought together government officials, industry experts, development partners and nuclear specialists from across Africa and the United States, is being held on the theme: “Building and Sustaining Africa’s Nuclear Workforce.”
He said Africa’s growing energy demands and industrial ambitions required countries to invest deliberately in developing the engineers, technicians, regulators, operators and project managers needed to deliver nuclear power programmes safely and efficiently.
“Technology, financing and regulatory frameworks are essential, but no nuclear programme can succeed or be sustained without skilled, motivated and continuously developed human capital,” he stated.
The Minister said Ghana’s pursuit of nuclear power formed part of a broader strategy to develop a diversified and resilient energy mix capable of supporting economic transformation, job creation and long-term energy security.
He traced Ghana’s nuclear aspirations to the era of the country’s first President, Dr Kwame Nkrumah, noting that successive governments had sought to harness atomic energy for peaceful development purposes.
Dr Jinapor said nuclear energy had become increasingly important within Ghana’s Energy Transition Framework, a long-term roadmap extending to 2070 that seeks to balance energy security with climate and development goals.
Dr Jinapor said the framework recognised nuclear energy as a key complement to natural gas and renewable energy sources because of its ability to provide reliable electricity around the clock.
The introduction of nuclear power would, therefore, help to support energy-intensive industries, including the country’s integrated aluminium and bauxite value chain, while strengthening efforts to position Ghana as a regional electricity exporter, he said.
The Minister also linked the country’s nuclear ambitions to the Government’s flagship 24-hour economy programme, saying reliable baseload power would be critical to sustaining continuous industrial and commercial activity.
“As Minister of Energy and Green Transition, I have a responsibility to champion the acceleration and realisation of Ghana’s energy transition objectives, with nuclear power playing an important role as a source of clean, reliable and firm power within our energy mix,” he said.
Dr Jinapor reaffirmed Ghana’s commitment to advancing its nuclear power programme in line with international best practices on safety, security and nuclear non-proliferation.
He said Nuclear Power Ghana, the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission (GAEC), and the Nuclear Regulatory Authority were continuing to implement the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Milestones Approach to prepare the country for the eventual introduction of nuclear-generated electricity.
The Minister highlighted Ghana’s growing partnership with the United States in the civil nuclear sector, describing it as a practical collaboration that was helping to build local expertise and institutional capacity.
He said Ghana’s participation in the U.S. Department of State’s Foundational Infrastructure for Responsible Use of Small Modular Reactor Technology (FIRST) programme had positioned the country as a regional Small Modular Reactor training hub for Sub-Saharan Africa.
He also cited the establishment of Africa’s first NuScale Energy Exploration Centre at the GAEC as a major milestone in training future nuclear operators and technicians through advanced simulation technology.
Other initiatives, including a regional nuclear welding certification programme and collaboration between Nuclear Power Ghana and Regnum Technology Group on Small Modular Reactor deployment, were helping to prepare the technical workforce needed for future nuclear infrastructure projects.
Dr Jinapor disclosed that Ghana and the United States were also making progress towards concluding a bilateral “123 Agreement”, which would provide a stronger framework for cooperation in the peaceful use of nuclear technology.
He called on governments, universities, technical institutions, regulators, industry players and development partners to strengthen collaboration in building Africa’s nuclear workforce.
The Minister identified technical and vocational education, regulatory competence, workforce financing, leadership development and the integration of emerging technologies like artificial intelligence as key priorities for the continent.
“The nuclear future of Africa will not be built by technology alone. It will be built by Africans with the knowledge, skills, institutions and leadership to deploy that technology safely, securely and responsibly,” he added.
GNA
Edited by Agnes Boye-Doe
20 Aug. 2026
Reporter: Albert Oppong-Ansah
Email: [email protected]