Media practitioners have received a firsthand look at Ghana’s nuclear energy programme through simulator demonstrations and visits to key nuclear facilities, aimed at improving public understanding and supporting more informed reporting on the country’s plans to introduce nuclear power.
The engagement, organised by Nuclear Power Ghana on August 18, 2026, took journalists to the NuScale E2 simulator at the Atomic-Kwabenya enclave and other facilities operated by the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission (GAEC) in Accra.
The programme was designed to give journalists a better understanding of nuclear reactor operations, safety systems, radioactive waste management and the broader use of nuclear technology in research, healthcare and industry.
During a session at the simulator, George Kofi Appiah, Manager of the Localization and Stakeholder Support Centre at the Nuclear Power Institute, explained some of the key mechanisms used to maintain reactor safety and stability.
He said control rods absorb neutrons to regulate the nuclear chain reaction, while fuel assemblies, temperature controls and real-time monitoring systems work together to maintain safe operating conditions.
Mr. Appiah said the demonstration was intended to help demystify nuclear technology and illustrate the strict engineering and safety procedures that guide reactor operations.
He also highlighted the potential role of small modular reactors in Ghana’s future energy mix, citing their potentially lower costs and simpler maintenance requirements. However, he stressed that a strong maintenance culture would be essential to ensuring their long-term sustainability.
At the Radioactive Waste Management Centre, Manager Dr. Gustav Kudjoe Gbeddy explained how radioactive materials are handled from the point of generation to their eventual disposal.
He said radioactive materials may be returned to suppliers or their countries of origin where possible. Where this cannot be done, the materials are transferred through the Nuclear Regulatory Authority to GAEC for safe management.
According to him, a significant portion of the radioactive waste handled by the centre originates from hospitals, particularly from cancer treatment and nuclear medicine.
Radioactive materials are also used in areas such as beverage quality control, road construction, mining and non-destructive testing within the oil and gas industry.
Dr. Gbeddy said the primary objective of radioactive waste management was to ensure that such materials do not become a burden for future generations, particularly as some radioactive substances can remain hazardous for thousands of years.
He explained that the waste management process involves segregation, measurement, encapsulation and storage in specially designed concrete containers.
The journalists also visited Reactor Hall 1, where research scientist Dr. Kwame Gyamfi demonstrated how nuclear techniques are used to identify and measure elements in samples such as food, water, soil and rocks.
He said these techniques support research and quality assurance activities across sectors including mining, agriculture, healthcare, metallurgy and food production.
Dr. Gyamfi explained that samples can be irradiated in a reactor and later analysed using a high-purity germanium detector, which identifies elements through their unique gamma-ray signatures.
The technique allows scientists to determine the concentration of several elements within a single sample, making it valuable for scientific research, regulation and product quality control.
The tour formed part of efforts to build greater public understanding and confidence in nuclear technology as Ghana advances preparations to include nuclear power in its energy mix.
Officials said the Small Modular Reactor Simulator was developed through a collaboration between Ghana and the United States and is the first facility of its kind in Africa.
The centre is being used to train nuclear scientists and support research in areas including renewable energy, food processing, minerals and technology, with applications extending beyond Ghana to other parts of Africa and the world.