On Thursday, August 26, a swearing-in ceremony was held at the Ministry of Environment, Science, and Technology (MEST) to officially induct the newly appointed Governing Board Members of the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission (GAEC).
The ceremony was presided over by the Hon. Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, Acting Minister for MEST, who concurrently serves as the Minister for Lands and Natural Resources, on behalf of H.E. President John Dramani Mahama.
He led the Board members to take the oath of office and oath of secrecy as guiding principles in the discharge of their duties.
The seven-member Governing Board will be Chaired by Prof. Abdulai Baba Salifu, with Prof. Francis Gbogbo, Dr. Sena Akosua Yvonne Loh, Prof. Langbong Bimi, Ms. Suweibatu Adam Esq. (Chief Director of MEST), Mr. Albert Quashigah Esq., and Prof. Samuel Boakye Dampare (Director General of GAEC) as members.
In a short statement by the minister, he indicated that the newly inducted Board’s stewardship comes at a critical juncture in Ghana’s Nuclear Power Programme, which is progressing steadily towards the completion of Phase II of the IAEA 3-Phased approach, leading to the ultimate realization of a nuclear power plant to diversify Ghana’s energy generation sources.
“Your commitment to ensuring that the Commission meets international nuclear safety and regulatory standards is crucial, as Ghana works closely with the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) to advance this ambitious national project”, he added.
The Minister also revealed that there were on-going policy processes to review the existing GAEC Act (Act 508) as part of efforts to strengthen and strategically position the Commission to derive maximum benefits from its operations and management. He pledged his maximum commitment and support to ensure that Cabinet and Parliament successfully amend the Act.
“I urge this Board to accord the review process with all the urgency required. The good thing is that with a new Board, fresh ideas, experts advise and insights will be made available to further enrich the document” he said.
He further charged the board to give urgent attention to the issue of encroachment on GAEC lands. He revealed that the Commission’s lands are critical national assets that host strategic research, training and nuclear facilities, in which encroachment threatens not only their current operations, but also the future expansion of Ghana’s nuclear programme. Hon. Buah urged the Board to collaborate with MEST, local authorities and other relevant state agencies to implement measures to secure and protect these lands for posterity.
The Board Chair, Prof. Abdulai Baba Salifu, in an acceptance speech on behalf of all the members thanked the President of Ghana for the opportunity to serve and promised to work hard to enable GAEC achieve all set objectives.
The Professor promised that he and the team will work hard to establish a health facility specializing in using nuclear technologies to treat non communicable diseases. He also promised to support the Commission to establish a nuclear power plant to augment Ghana’s energy sources.
Some Management and staff of GAEC present at the programme were the Deputy Director General, Prof. Francis Hasford, Director of Administration, Mr. William Srekumah, Deputy Director of Finance, Mr. Eli Aniabo, Director of the Radiological and Medical Sciences Research Institute, Dr. Theodosia Adom, Head of Legal Affairs, Madam Susana Nyarkoa Addo, representatives of the Commercialization and Communication Directorate, Dr. Mark Kwasi Sarfo and Mr. Joshua Yeboah.
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