An International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) team of experts has successfully completed an eight-day review of Ghana’s site selection process for its first nuclear power plant (NPP). The review, conducted from February 14 to 21, assessed Ghana’s adherence to IAEA safety standards in selecting a suitable location for the project.

Ghana is pursuing nuclear power to enhance its low-carbon energy production, meet growing electricity demand, and strengthen energy security and diversity. The Site and External Events Design Review Service (SEED) mission was carried out at the request of the Government of Ghana and hosted by Nuclear Power Ghana (NPG) under the supervision of the Ministry of Energy and Green Transition.

According to the IAEA, Ghana has successfully identified both a candidate site and an alternative site for the NPP, marking a key milestone in the country’s nuclear journey. The next stage involves site characterization, where further detailed evaluations will be conducted.

The SEED mission team, comprising experts from Pakistan, Türkiye, the United Kingdom, and the United States, alongside an IAEA staff member, reviewed Ghana’s site selection report. The assessment covered the siting criteria, data collection process, and management system for siting activities. As part of the review, the team visited the candidate site in the Western Region and the alternative site in the Central Region.

“We confirmed that both the implementing organization and the management system are well-designed with the support of the government and that the Site Approval Report has been systematically and thoroughly prepared. Ghana followed the IAEA safety standards while performing the site selection process,” said mission team leader Kazuyuki Nagasawa, Senior Nuclear Safety Officer at the IAEA.

The team provided recommendations to optimize the site selection process and ensure the most favorable location is chosen. Key factors under consideration include susceptibility to earthquakes, flooding, extreme weather events, and the feasibility of emergency response plans.

As part of its findings, the IAEA mission noted that “leadership and management for safety have been functioning well since the beginning of the siting process” within NPG.

Welcoming the IAEA’s review, Stephen Yamoah, Executive Director of NPG, highlighted the significance of the mission in shaping Ghana’s nuclear future.

“We acknowledge with deep appreciation the IAEA SEED mission’s technical assistance in assessing our site selection. This mission is of great importance to our nuclear power programme, as it ensures that our decisions are guided by international best practices for safe and secure development of nuclear power infrastructure,” he said.

The IAEA will continue to provide technical assistance to Ghana throughout the site approval process. The final SEED mission report will be delivered to the Government of Ghana within three months.