Nuclear energy is created by the splitting of uranium atoms and this is known as nuclear fusion [1].

It
produces heat and non-stationary power reactors have an essential use in all aspects. In 2008, about
14 % of the global electricity production or about 21% of electricity production in OCED (organisation
for Economic cooperation and Development) countries were supplied by nuclear energy [2]. Nuclear
power is a clean and sustainable source which provides huge amounts of sustained energy without
polluting the atmosphere[3] ( in contrast to the massive amount of pollution and carbon emissions
produced by the combustion of fossil fuels like coal, oil and natural gas) and the environment or by
producing harmful carbon emissions which cause global warming. The utilization of nuclear power
provides well paying jobs for local and foreign citizens , energy security ( the alliance between
national security and the abundance of natural sources for energy consumption), and also reduces a
country’s dependence on imported fuel and other sources due to price risks which is associated or
caused by Middle East politics[4]. Currently, the modern society demands on “always-on energy” to
generate power for communications, computer networks, transportation, industry and residences
always of day and night. Without nuclear power, industries must burn fossil fuels to maintain its
energy grid reliable, even with access to solar and tidal energy; it isn’t effective enough to maintain
the energy grid as these are sources are occasional. At the time where an increasing number of
citizens are desperate for an immediate climate action, any form of energy that generates less
greenhouse emissions and has no contribution to the greenhouse effect; is to be considered.

The right mix of energy sources will allow the world to react the targets set in the Paris agreement in
order to reduce global warming and restrict climate change [5]. During the conference, Liu Zhenmin,
Under-Secretary-General for Economic and Social Affairs at the United Nations department of
Economic and Social Affairs (UN DESA), said that the use and consumption of nuclear power can
progress the objectives of the 2030 Agenda for sustainable and the Paris Agreement on climate
change[6]. One of the main world organisations on nuclear power is the International Atomic Energy
Agency (IAEA) [7]. Their main aim is to facilitate and promote the peaceful and efficient use of
nuclear power at an international level by the means of international conferences, coordinated
research programmes and databases and the production of comprehensive and thorough
documentation and publications. The IAEA also send its own experts and authorities to provide
developing countries with assistance, for example: nuclear applications in the field of medicine,
water resource management and agriculture and as well as providing funds for scholarships and
training courses related nuclear power [8].

Currently, in developing countries demand for electricity will grow due to the rise in population.
According to the World Energy Council, the global use of electricity can be expected to increase by
25% (from 50% to 75%) by the year 2020[9]. In the past the choice of energy option was easy
because the cheapest energy was the best and efficient energy to use. Today, comparisons between
different energy sources to generate electricity requires the weighing of all costs; not only
economically, but also health and environmental impacts due to the production of nuclear energy. In
addition, other factors, like energy independence (autarky regarding energy resources, energy
supply and energy generation by the energy industry) [10], population density and people’s opinion,
is also strictly considered [11]. The IAEA analyses and plans the energy and electrical systems. This
analysis is used in order to focus on the direct economic cost. Nowadays as more factors are being
relevant the IAEA has improved a full energy chain analysis which transmits the comparison of fuel
and energy choice by their cost and their impacts on health and environment from the extraction of
it till the final use [12]. Using this tool for objective and reliable comparisons, we find that in many
situations and economical consequences that nuclear energy is both economically operable and
environmentally it is a friendly source of energy [13]. The IAEA also enforces the global monitoring
association and the harmonisation of generating safety standards and recommendations on reactor
safety, radiation protection, nuclear waste and extraction management, transportation of
radioactive substances and the security of nuclear facilities, nuclear plants and nuclear materials
[14].

Nuclear power in Ghana

Ghana’s electricity demand has been estimated to be increasing at a high rate of about 7% per
annum over the last ten years. This is due to the relatively high population growth, economic
aspiration of the country and due to the extension of electricity to rural areas. Currently, electricity
supply in Ghana has been unable to meet its demand due to high dependency on rain-fed
hydropower plants, which stated operating in 1965. Within the last 28 years, climate changes and
droughts have caused Ghana to experience three critical power crises. These climate changes took
place due to the low inflows and hence reduced power generation from hydropower systems. To
supplement the hydropower systems and plants, the Government in Ghana installed thermal plant
which is based on light crude oil. But due to the high crude oil prices on the international market
resulted the operations of these plants to be expensive. For rural cooking, domestic biomass was
utilized. Ghana has no domestic coal resources. The government was also concerned with the
limited further growth potential of domestic hydropower. Small solar and tidal generation exist in
some sectors however these sources are not efficient enough to meet its demands in the future.
With these in mind, the president of Ghana, John Kufuor established a committee involving
stakeholder institution to prepare the nuclear power policy and develop the basic elements of
nuclear infrastructure and to assess the sustainability of introducing the nuclear option in Ghana’s
energy mix. Cabinets and other higher official members took a decision to include nuclear power for
electricity generation.

Ghana gained its independence in the same year as the first commercial nuclear power plant was
built in 1957. Ghana is participant to the non-proliferation treaty, this allows Ghana to operate and
utilize nuclear technology for peaceful purposes. The first president of the country established the
Ghana Nuclear Reactor Project (GNRP) on 25th of November 1964. The intention and purpose of this
project id to introduce nuclear physics and technology into Ghana and to utilize the peaceful
applications of nuclear power for national development. However, this project was abandoned after
the first president was confiscated from power in 1966 due to a military coup de tat. Hence, Ghana is
further away from where it started.

Ghana has been participating in coordinated research projects hosted by the IAEA which helps to
increase the nuclear knowledge base of the country.

Ghana’s growth and poverty reduction strategy (GPRS) is the focus on the transformation of the
Ghanaian economy from its recent low-income status into a middle income with a per captia income
of about US $1500 by 2015. But do does this it requires cost competitive, environmentally friendly
and reliable source of grid electricity which is nuclear energy.

Ghana’s maximum electricity demand is projected to exceed the generating capacity (which is 3,000
MV) in 2015. Currently in Ghana, the corresponding energy demand estimated around 26,000 GWh
and 4000 MW in 2020 and with 33,000 GWh energy demand. The development of infrastructure in
the Bui Dam to from cascade with the Akosombo and Kpong dams will increase the capacity to 1600
MW. Medium hydropower plants at Pwalugu on White Volta, Juale on Oti River, Hemang on Pra river
and the dams in Ankobara and Tano can only provide a total of 425 MW. Contributions from
renewable energy sources such as solar, wind and biomass can only produce 380-500 MW, which
cannot even exceed 10% of the required total demand. However, nuclear energy can contribute till
93.7% of the countries’ electricity demand. This is because nuclear energy has a high capacity factor
meaning it can nuclear energy can be produced at any time. Table 1 shows a comparative cost
assessment of possible energy sources to produce electricity into Ghana’s energy mix. it can be seen
that AP-600 (nuclear power plant) is very cost effective and has a larger capacity compared with the
other small dams.

TABLE 1-Comparative Cost Assessment of Possible Sources of Energy in Ghana

The Nuclear Power Planning Committee (NPPC) was established by the President of Ghana in 2008
for the construction and preparation of the basic element of nuclear infrastructure. The committee
made suggestions on the following key issues to the government. This includes:

• Economics of nuclear power

• Legal, monitoring and governmental aspects on nuclear power.

• Environmental aspects of nuclear power

• Selection on the type of reactor

• Nuclear fuel cycle including nuclear waste management

• Role of government and private sector in the development of the nuclear power programme

• Accessibility of the industrial base

• Need of human resources

• Amount of uranium resources in Ghana

• Public acceptances

Based on all these recommendations, the government took a cabinet action in 2008 to establish
nuclear energy into Ghana’s energy mix.