The Acting Minister for Environment Science and Technology, Mr. Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, has charged the newly appointed Governing Board of the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission (GAEC) with a clear directive to steer the nation’s ambitious nuclear power programme and secure its strategic assets.
He said this during the inauguration of the board on Tuesday in Accra.
He noted that the Board, as the highest governance was entrusted with the responsibility to provide strategic direction, exercise general oversight, and ensure the effective and efficient performance of the functions of the Commission.
The Minister informed the board members that they are taking office at a critical juncture in the national nuclear power programme, which is moving forward in stages to build a nuclear power plant to diversify the country’s energy supplies.
“Your commitment to ensuring that the Commission meets international nuclear safety and regulatory standards is crucial,” he said.
Mr. Armah-Kofi Buah outlined two urgent priorities assigned to the Board. The first was the review of the GAEC Act 2000 (Act 588) to modernise the institution’s framework.
“I urge this Board to accord the review process with all the urgency required, promising full ministerial support to guide the revised act through Cabinet and Parliament,” he added.
The second pressing issue is the protection of GAEC lands from encroachment, where the Board was tasked to lead efforts to safeguard these areas, which host vital research and nuclear facilities.
“Encroachment threatens not only our current operations but also the future expansion of Ghana’s nuclear programme,” he noted.
In his remarks, the Chairperson of the Board, Dr. Abdulai Baba Salifu, pledged to leverage his experience to permanently halt the encroachment on the Commission’s lands, which he described as a “legacy institution” key to national development.
“I have a record at the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) that during my tenure, nobody dared encroach on our land, so I intend to bring the same”, he stated, signalling a firm stance on protecting GAEC’s strategic assets.
Other members include Prof. Samuel Boakye Dampare, Mr. Albert Quashgah, Prof. France Gbogbo, Dr. Sena Akosua Yvonne Loh, Prof. Langbong Bimi and Ms. Suweibatu Adam.
Joyce Adwoa Animia Ocran, ISD
