The Ghana Nuclear Power Programme Organisation (GNPPO) has engaged the leadership of the Ghana Medical Association (GMA) in Accra on the progress of Ghana’s nuclear power programme.
The engagement took place at the National Headquarters of the GMA at the Korle-Bu Teaching Hospital. The GMA team was led by the president, Dr. Frank Serebour and the GNPPO, by Prof. Seth Kofi Debrah, the Director of the Nuclear Power Institute, the technical arm of the GNPPO.
Prof. Seth Kofi Debrah delivered a presentation, which recounted Ghana’s nuclear journey and the status of the nuclear power programme. He explained the reason Ghana needs a reliable baseload, having exhausted almost all hydro potential and the fact that climate climate action seeks to militate against the option of coal. He also made reference to industry’s continual call for cheaper energy to lower the high cost of production. In the case of thermal sources, he explained that although the country currently has oil and gas, it will experience a depletion of the resource, a situation that calls for a plan to include a baseload that guarantees resilience, reliability and affordability.
In response to safety concerns and siting considerations, Prof. Debrah explained that safety is the utmost priority and steps were being taken to ensure the protection of people and the environment from harmful effects of ionizing radiation, which is a fundamental safety principle. He stated the integrity of the containment building, establishment of exclusion zone and passive safety features of modern reactors are all safety systems have brought tremendous safety improvements and assurance. He further assured that the candidate sites were selected based on extensive study and recourse to very critical parameters. “With regard to the site for the nuclear power plant, exclusionary measures are critically considered. For example, the reactor must be close to a large water body, far from densely populated area. The site must also have the appropriate geology and hydrology, as well as low seismicity ”, he said.
Responding to a question about whether communities around the preferred sites have been engaged, Prof. Debrah said that there have been continuous engagements, which have led to the formation of a joint working committee,with some selected community members playing a critical on the committee. He revealed that seismic equipment have been installed at the candidate sites and the caretakers of the installations are from the communities. Prof. Debrah concluded by assuring the GMA executives of the GNPPO’s readiness for further engagement.
Dr. Francis Serebour thanked the team for the insightful engagement and stated that the GMA was ready to partner with the GNPPO. He said that despite the quest for sustainable energy, there is the need to proritise health and safety. He assured the GNPPO of the GMA’s support in all efforts aimed at achieving health and safety. He concluded by stating the need to start looking for opportunities to train some medical doctors in the field of radiation oncology.
