Ghana’s Nuclear Program: NPG Activates Community Awareness and Engagement Strategy

Giant strides have been made in Ghana’s Nuclear Power Program which is aimed at integrating 1 GW of nuclear power into the electricity mix by 2030.

The program, even thought fraught with financial challenges, authorities at Nuclear Power Ghana (NPG) are optimistic of the program seeing the light of the day given the strategies that are being rolled out by the Authorities.

One of the strategies which is community engagement and awareness is one of the topmost priorities of the NPG.

The Head of Communications at the NPG, Madam Bellona-Gerald Vittor-Quao, at a media engagement on Thursday reiterated that the NPG has now being granted two rights thus community engagement and touching of objects at the site, marked for the installation of the nuclear plant.

She further explained that because community engagement is key to the NPG, they have developed initiatives such as quiz for schools within the catchment area to help educate the students on the Nuclear program.

“What we ask them is that how does the project benefit them.
It is only when you are firmly grounded that you can support a cause.

She said local content is key to the NPA so they will educate the community on the opportunities such as jobs and make it a policy to link the Community people who are predominantly fishermen to vendors.

This, Madam Vittor-Quao said would help the community folks to have a ready market for their fishes.

She also revealed that NPG would build an information Centre to enhance information dissemination in the community.

On his part, the Executive Director of NPG, Dr. Stephen Amoah commended the media for being with them from the word go adding “through you we’ve been able to reach out to many corners in this country”.

He added “your contribution is something we don’t take for granted”.

Touching on the nuclear program, he said NPG is now focused on the timeline for implementation as he said the key challenge however remains securing financing for the project even though is government is committed to the project.

According to him, Government government, through the Ministry of Energy (now the Ministry of Energy and Green Transition), is actively engaging stakeholders to ensure the successful execution of the nuclear power project adding that

Dr..Yamoah emphasized that NPG is currently embarking on site Studies and Infrastructure Preparation where
crucial environmental and oceanic data are being collected for the nuclear plant’s coastal site.

“This includes measurements of tides, ocean depth, and water currents to support the plant’s cooling system. Background environmental studies are also underway to establish baseline data for long-term safety monitoring”, he revealed.

Source: senaradioonline.com