Ghana sets 15-year roadmap for radioactive waste, spent fuel management

GHANA – Ghana is finalizing a national policy on radioactive waste and spent fuel management, marking a major milestone in its 15-year journey to strengthen nuclear safety governance ahead of plans to integrate nuclear power into the country’s energy mix by 2030.

The policy, expected to be completed next week, will be submitted to the Attorney-General’s Office for review before proceeding to the sector ministry and the Parliamentary Select Committee for consideration and approval.

Speaking during a stakeholder consultation workshop in Accra, Professor Francis Otoo, Acting Director General of the Nuclear Regulatory Authority (NRA), said the policy aims to align Ghana’s framework with international standards while ensuring public and environmental safety.

“One of the requirements for a regulatory body is to get our policies in line with international best practices,” he said.

“We must ensure that the policy is both practical and protective, allowing for safe management of radiation sources and spent fuel.”

Prof. Otoo noted that radiation sources currently in use within Ghana’s mining, oil, and gas industries are either rented or stored under the oversight of the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission (GAEC).

With nuclear energy development on the horizon, he said a comprehensive waste management system would be vital to safeguard people and ecosystems.

Mr. Kwamena Essilfie Quaison, Director of Science and Technology at the Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology, described the forthcoming framework as both a “regulatory obligation and a moral imperative.”

He emphasized that while nuclear technologies have brought wide-ranging benefits, spanning cancer diagnosis, industrial sterilization, and agricultural innovation, their byproducts, if mismanaged, could pose serious risks.

The policy, he said, rests on five pillars: safety, security, sustainability, transparency, and alignment with IAEA (International Atomic Energy Agency) standards.

It outlines comprehensive guidance covering the entire lifecycle of radioactive waste, from generation and classification to storage, transport, and final disposal.

Mr. Quaison urged participants to offer “candid feedback and practical insights” to ensure the policy is technically sound, socially acceptable, and economically feasible.

He commended the NRA, government agencies, academia, and civil society for their collaboration in shaping Ghana’s nuclear safety infrastructure.

Ghana’s initiative follows similar frameworks established by South Africa’s National Radioactive Waste Disposal Institute (NRWDI) and Kenya’s Nuclear Power and Energy Agency (NuPEA), reflecting Africa’s growing commitment to safe and responsible nuclear development.

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