Accra: The Association of Ghana Industries (AGI) has highlighted the importance of Ghana's nuclear power programme as a strategic national initiative aimed at supporting the country's long-term industrial growth. The AGI urged for sustained and predictable investment, strong institutional commitment, and collaboration among the Government, industry, development partners, investors, and technical institutions to advance the programme.
According to Ghana News Agency, Dr. Humphrey Ayim-Darke, former President of the AGI, emphasized the need for Ghana to accelerate the nuclear programme from the preparatory stage to construction readiness. He outlined the importance of addressing financing, technical, regulatory, and institutional requirements to overcome funding constraints affecting nuclear site studies, site characterization, and environmental assessments.
Dr. Ayim-Darke stressed that the nuclear programme should be treated as a strategic national project with a focus on industrial competitiveness. He noted that electricity planning must accommodate the growing energy needs of productive industries. Reliable and affordable electricity is deemed critical for Ghana's efforts to process raw materials locally and expand manufacturing capabilities.
He identified sectors such as mining, agro-processing, steel, cement, chemicals, and other energy-intensive industries as requiring dependable power to expand production and remain competitive. Dr. Ayim-Darke urged policymakers to consider nuclear energy as part of a broader industrial energy strategy, rather than solely as a means of generating electricity.
Dr. Ayim-Darke also emphasized the potential of the nuclear programme to develop a domestic nuclear industrial ecosystem encompassing engineering, construction, maintenance, manufacturing, professional services, research, skills development, and technology transfer. He called for a clearly defined role for the private sector to mobilize the capital required for nuclear development, highlighting the importance of transparency, strong safety standards, credible economic assessments, and clear regulatory arrangements to boost investor confidence.
He further stated that sustained public confidence would require high standards of nuclear safety, environmental protection, regulatory oversight, and public engagement. Stakeholders need to demonstrate how nuclear energy could contribute to industrial growth, job creation, and economic transformation.
Dr. Ayim-Darke warned against waiting for an energy crisis before investing in future energy supply, stressing that electricity demand is growing and industries need reliable power for domestic raw material processing. He underscored the necessity of building an energy system capable of supporting the industrial economy over the coming decades.
He highlighted the potential for international partnerships, including cooperation between Ghana, the United States, and other development partners, to mobilize investors, technology providers, financial institutions, and international companies into the nuclear sector. Such partnerships could provide the expertise and investment needed to advance the programme while building local capacity.
Dr. Ayim-Darke called on the Government to move decisively with the nuclear programme while maintaining a diversified energy mix, ensuring that development remains anchored in safety, affordability, environmental responsibility, and transparency. He concluded that successful development of nuclear energy could provide Ghana with a reliable long-term source of electricity and create opportunities for local industries to engage in the broader nuclear value chain.