Ghana has called for deeper international collaboration and increased investment in nuclear energy as African countries seek reliable and sustainable solutions to their growing energy needs.
The call was made at the opening of the U.S.-Africa Nuclear Energy Summit in Accra, where the Minister for Energy and Green Transition, John Jinapor, represented President John Dramani Mahama.
Mr Jinapor said Africa’s transition towards clean and sustainable energy would require greater access to advanced technologies, stronger international partnerships and strategic investments in power infrastructure.
A key proposal put forward at the summit was the establishment of an African Nuclear Talent and Diaspora Network to strengthen the continent’s capacity in nuclear energy.
The proposed network would bring together governments, universities, technical institutions, regulatory bodies, industry players and African nuclear professionals living and working around the world.
The initiative is intended to help address skills and expertise gaps while creating stronger links between African institutions and professionals with experience in the global nuclear industry.
The three-day summit has brought together policymakers, industry leaders and nuclear experts from Africa and beyond to examine practical ways of developing the continent’s nuclear energy sector.
Discussions are focused on building end-to-end talent pipelines, improving regulatory systems and exploring the deployment of advanced civil nuclear technologies.
The summit comes as African countries face growing pressure to expand electricity access while reducing dependence on energy sources that contribute significantly to greenhouse gas emissions.
Ghana reaffirmed its commitment to developing secure and clean energy solutions, with Mr Jinapor linking nuclear energy to the country’s broader ambitions for industrialisation and economic growth.
He said Ghana’s approach would also focus on strengthening long-term energy security, both for the country and the wider African continent.
