Draft Nuclear Regulatory Authority Bill discussions underway in Accra

A round table discussion on the Draft Nuclear Regulatory Authority (NRA) Bill begun at the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission on Tuesday with the hope that a common platform would be reached on how to improve regulatory effectiveness as well as improve protection for the public. The day's meeting, which discussed the establishment of the NRA, its functions and powers, staffing, structure, and financial provisions attracted about 50 participants included Ministers of States, Parliamentarians, Nuclear Scientists, officials of the Attorney Generals Department, Environmental Protection Agency, Food and Drugs Board, Volta River Authority and some members of the academia. The meeting was also to meet the requirements of the International Atomic Energy Agency for the establishment of a Legal Infrastructure for Nuclear Energy Programme and Radiation Protection in Ghana. Professor John Humphrey Amuasi, Dean, School of Nuclear and Allied Sciences, University of Ghana, Atomic Energy Campus said the introduction of a nuclear power programme in Ghana and its successful execution would depend largely "on our ability to master local and international infrastructure covering a wide range of activities". The activities, he said should include how to operate a reliable and adequate electric power generation, transmission and distribution system and how to implement necessary expansion when needed. Prof Amausi said; "there was no gain saying how much Ghana needs a nuclear infrastructure to move us from a typical consumer oriented country which imports everything from power generators to toothpicks from other countries who some 50 years ago were on the same level with us in terms of development". Nuclear energy and radiation infrastructure hold the key for agricultural and industrial growth, he said. Dr Yaw Serfor-Armah, Deputy Director-General, Ghana Atomic Energy Commission said the meeting would preview the draft Nuclear Regulation Authority Bill to address issues such as the renewed interest in the use of nuclear energy for electricity generation; the changed global security situation and the consequential need for safety and security to be more closely integrated among others. He said Ghana already had a Radiation Protection Board but its resources were inadequate and these needed to be enhanced to include the aspect related to the regulation of nuclear power facilities. "The achievement and maintenance of a high level of safety and security in the use of nuclear and radiation sources and radioactive waste management, will obviously depend on a sound legal and governmental infrastructure comprising an independent and appropriately organised regulatory body with well-defined responsibilities and functions, and staff with access to adequate resources," he said.