The Finance Minister Cassiel Ato Forson has announced plans by the government to train more than 2,000 scientists to build local expertise for Ghana’s transition to safe and reliable nuclear power.
The initiative forms part of a broader nuclear-readiness programme aimed at preparing the country for the development of a fully state-owned nuclear power plant.
Presenting the 2027 Budget Statement and Economic Policy to Parliament on Thursday, November 12, he disclosed that the government would invest US$200 million in a 24-month nuclear-readiness programme, running from January 2027 to December 2028, to prepare the country for the project.
As part of the programme, the government is targeting the completion of critical preparatory work and the signing of an engineering, procurement, construction and financing contract for the proposed nuclear power plant by December 2028.
Ato Forson, however, cautioned against interpreting the 2028 readiness target as the commencement of nuclear power generation.
“The nuclear power plant will remain a strategic national asset and will not be developed as an independent power producer. International partners will only provide technology, financing, engineering and specialist services.
He explained that the period would instead be used to complete essential preparations, including site studies, technology selection, environmental assessments, financing arrangements, licensing preparations, safeguards, emergency planning and the safety case required for investment and implementation.
The Finance Minister further stressed that the proposed nuclear power plant would remain under full state ownership and would not be developed as an independent power producer project.
Additionally, two million prepaid meters will be deployed to address distribution losses, while performance-based private-sector participation in electricity distribution is expected to be fully implemented by the end of 2027.