Poor remuneration leaves Atomic Energy with high attrition rate

Ghana's nuclear programme is in danger following a high attrition rate of trained scientists in search of greener pasture.

Many others are also on the back burner due to the lack of financial clearance from government to be employed.

Dozens of the scientists trained by the School of Nuclear and Allied Sciences (SNAS) under the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission (GAEC) are in a fix not knowing their next line of action.

The immediate past Director-General of the commission, Professor Benjamin Jabez Botwe Nyarko, disclosed this in Accra yesterday during a lecture on "postgraduate education in nuclear science and technology in Ghana: Impact, applications, challenges and the way forward."

He said nuclear science was a highly sought-after profession worldwide which attracted high remuneration "so if you fail to take good care of your people, they will go to where they will feel comfortable."

Situation

In recent times, most of the scientists sent on scholarship to pursue their PhD programmes in the United States of America in particular do not return to serve their country.

The former Director-General (DG) said the development had taken the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) aback, which had tagged Ghana as having the best human capacity in the field and indeed, "a saviour" to the continent.

The former DG has, therefore, appealed to government to lift the "ban" on employment to save the country from the risk of losing future scientists in the field.

Innovation 

In his lecture, a former Dean of the SNAS, Prof. Yaw Serfor-Armah, called for innovation and critical thinking to change the field and be able to process a lot of literature.

He said SNAS was the most sought-after on the continent and beyond, attracting some of the best brains across the globe.

His lecture centred on the importance of nuclear science on economic development and industrial growth.

The lecture and interaction with the public formed part of GAEC's year-long 60th anniversary celebration which ends next month.

The Graduate School of Nuclear and Allied Sciences was established in 2006 through a collaboration between the GAEC and the University of Ghana, Legon, with significant support from the IAEA.

This initiative was driven by the increasing demand for nuclear technology applications in Ghana and Africa, necessitating a skilled workforce of scientists and engineers in nuclear science.

Nuclear science and technology play a major role in bringing innovation, safety and efficiency to industrial processes. Making radiation technologies available to Member States and assisting them in the peaceful use of these technologies are an important part of the IAEA’s work.