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Finance Minister Dr Cassiel Ato Forson has announced plans to train more than 2,000 scientists as part of efforts to develop local expertise to support Ghana’s transition to safe and reliable nuclear power.
The initiative forms part of a comprehensive nuclear-readiness programme designed to prepare the country for the establishment of a fully state-owned nuclear power plant.
Presenting the 2027 Budget Statement and Economic Policy to Parliament on Thursday, November 12, Dr Ato Forson disclosed that the government would commit US$200 million to a 24-month nuclear-readiness programme scheduled to run from January 2027 to December 2028.
He said the programme would focus on completing key preparatory activities and securing an engineering, procurement, construction and financing contract for the proposed nuclear power plant by December 2028.
However, the Finance Minister clarified that achieving the readiness target by 2028 should not be mistaken for the commencement of nuclear power generation.
He explained that the proposed facility would be retained as a strategic national asset under full government ownership, stressing that it would not operate under an independent power producer arrangement.
According to him, international partners would be engaged strictly to provide the necessary technology, financing, engineering expertise and specialised services.
“As part of our nuclear-readiness journey, government will train over 2,000 scientists to build local expertise to drive Ghana’s transition to safe and reliable nuclear power,” he stated.
Dr Ato Forson further outlined the key activities expected to be undertaken during the two-year period, including site investigations, technology selection, environmental assessments, financing arrangements, licensing preparations, safeguards, emergency planning and the development of a safety case necessary for investment and project implementation.
He emphasised that the preparatory phase would lay the technical and regulatory foundations for the country’s nuclear energy ambitions.
Meanwhile, the government is also pursuing measures to improve efficiency in the electricity distribution sector.
As part of these interventions, two million prepaid meters are expected to be deployed to reduce distribution losses, while the implementation of performance-based private-sector participation in electricity distribution is targeted for completion by the end of 2027.