Reconsider nuclear energy exploration, go for safer, cheaper energy sources - UCC lecturer

A Senior Lecturer at the University of Cape Coast (UCC), Prof Christopher Beccles has called on government to reconsider its decision to explore nuclear energy for more cheaper and safer options.

He noted that while nuclear energy had its advantages, it has risks to health and the environment, which were higher.

Prof Beccles stressed that the government had safer and cheaper alternative sources of energy in solar, wind and bio and there was no need to risk exploring nuclear energy.

He observed that many developed countries including the United States and Russia had all been cautiously adopting nuclear energy due to the immense risk of the radiations that come with its usage.

He was speaking at a three day seminar at Elmina on Monday [Dec 30, 2024].

The seminar is on the theme, "The need for a nuclear free Ghana:The role of stakeholders."

It was organised by the Three-sixty Foundation, a non-governmental organisation with support from the Rosa Luxemburg Foundation.

Participants were from the academia, traditional authorities, clergy and assembly members in the Komenda-Edina Eguafo Abrem municipality.

Ghana has re-established a desire to use nuclear technology to generate electricity as part of the current energy mix.

The Ghana Nuclear Power Programme Organisation (GNPPO), is made up of other governmental agencies, private companies, academia and the Nuclear Regulatory Authority, Nuclear Power Ghana and the Nuclear Power Institute are the technical workforce and advisory body in charge of the coordination for the nuclear power programme.

Indeed Ghana is considering bids from some companies for the construction of what would be the first nuclear power plant.

They are France’s EDF, US-based NuScale Power and Regnum Technology Group; China National Nuclear Corporation; South Korea’s Kepco and its subsidiary Korea Hydro Nuclear Power Corporation; and Russia’s Rosatom according to reports. 

Prof Beccles said there was enough sun all year round and this could be cheaply explored to boast the country's energy sources than nuclear which he described as a riskier less safer option.

He indicated there were no trained expertise to manage such "dangerous" set ups stressing that there was no need for nuclear energy whilst we had abundance of solar energy to be tapped.

For his part, the head of the Dialysis Unit of the Cape Coast Teaching Hospital, Dr Evans Maccready said Ghana was not ready to handle any nuclear spillages if something went wrong and urged the government to thread cautiously.

The Executive Director of Three-sixty Foundation, Alberta Kpeleku said the awareness on nuclear was minimal stating that the foundation would continue to raise awareness about nuclear energy and advocate for a nuclear free Ghana.