by MASAHUDU KUNATEH?
THE Ghana Atomic Energy Commission (GAEC) said financial?constraints?were hampering?efforts?to develop infrastructure and human resource for the smooth take off of country?s Nuclear Power Programme and finance other activities and programmes.
The?Deputy Director-General of the Commission, Dr Innocent Aboh, who made this known, explained that in spite of the successes chalked by the commission, the current financial crunch was hitting the commission hard.
Sharing some of the successes and activities of Commission, he noted the commission had been active in the promotion, development and?utilisation?of the peaceful applications of nuclear and biotechnological techniques for economic and social advancement of Ghana since its establishment in 1963.
?Its primary objectives were set out by the Parliamentary Act 588, which involves investigating the use of nuclear energy for Ghana and supporting?research and development?both in Ghana and abroad,? he said.
He indicated that in pursuance of its objectives the commission had established?institutes?and centres such as the National?Nuclear Research?Institute and the School of Nuclear and Allied Sciences, which carry out appropriate research activities in areas of preservation, maintenance and enhancement of nuclear knowledge in Ghana and Africa.
?They do these through the provision of high?quality teaching, research, entrepreneurship training, service and development of?postgraduate programmes?in the nuclear sciences and technology,? he said.
According to Aboh, the?Radiation Protection?Institute (RPI), one of the units under the Commission, was also authorised to inspect and control all activities and practices involving sealed radiation sources, ionizing radiation and other sources, including radioactive materials and x-rays used in hospitals in Ghana.
The same institute is responsible for the implementation of?safety?culture?by providing adequate?human resource development?in radiation and waste safety for management and operating organizations.
It also conducts research and?technical services?in radiation and waste safety, he explained.
The Director-General of the Commission, Professor Benjamin Jabez Nyarko, meanwhile appealed to the Parliament to devote much attention to pushing the Nuclear Regulation Bill, which was yet to be approved and passed by Parliament.
Source??MASAHUDU KUNATEH?
ITNEWSGhana.com
