Finance Minister Cassiel Ato Forson has announced that the government plans to train more than 2,000 scientists to develop local expertise as Ghana moves towards safe and reliable nuclear power.
The initiative is part of a wider nuclear-readiness programme designed to prepare the country to develop a fully state-owned nuclear power plant.
Presenting the 2027 Budget Statement and Economic Policy to Parliament on Thursday, November 12, he said the government would invest US$200 million in a 24-month nuclear-readiness programme running from January 2027 to December 2028.
Under the programme, the government aims to complete key preparatory work and sign an engineering, procurement, construction and financing contract for the proposed nuclear power plant by December 2028.
However, Ato Forson cautioned that the 2028 readiness target should not be understood as the start 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 provide technology, financing, engineering and specialist services only.
“As part of our nuclear-readiness journey, the government will train more than 2,000 scientists to build local expertise and support Ghana’s transition to safe and reliable nuclear power,” he said.
He explained that this period would instead be devoted to essential preparations, including site studies, technology selection, environmental assessments, financing arrangements, licensing preparations, safeguards, emergency planning and the safety case needed for investment and implementation.
The Finance Minister also reiterated that the proposed nuclear power plant would remain fully state-owned and would not be developed as an independent power producer project.
In addition, two million prepaid meters will be installed to reduce distribution losses, and performance-based private-sector participation in electricity distribution is expected to be fully implemented by the end of 2027.
