The Nuclear Power Ghana has commenced processes to support the training of some technical schools in Cape Coast, to fully build students’ competencies for the project phase of Ghana’s ongoing Nuclear Power Programme.
A seven-member delegation paid a visit to the Cape Coast Technical University (CCTU) and the Cape Coast Technical Institute (CCTI), to introduce the programme to them and to discuss how to build adequate manpower for the project.
Ghana is working assiduously to establish a nuclear power plant to introduce nuclear energy into its energy mix, for industrialisation and other important uses.
Having completed the first phase in 2019, the programme is currently in the second phase where project feasibilities are being conducted.
Presently, three sites have been identified for the establishment of the nuclear power plant, of which one is situated in the Central Region, with the other two in the Western Region.
There was no argument during the meeting that the current curricula in the various schools were not up to standard for the upcoming nuclear industry.

Dr Archibald Kwofie, the Acting Director of the Nuclear Power Institute of the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission, explained that the proposed training was to ensure that the students coming out from the schools were competent enough to directly play a role in the industry.
He said the programme would require expertise mostly in areas including construction, maintenance and operation, technical and vocational skills, but regrettably the country seemed to be neglecting technical and vocational training.
He noted there were more than 90 different professionals in the nuclear industry including welders, plumbers, pipefitters, masons, electricians, and electronic engineers, and the local economy stood to benefit immensely with a skilled workforce.
“The industry thrives on highly skilled people and so we need to find a way of beefing up what we currently have,” he stressed.
Already, they had had discussions with the Technical and Vocational Education and Training (TVET) head office and visited some other institutions on the training, he added.
Dr Kwofie noted that a major reason for government’s decision to go nuclear was energy security.
“Currently, we are doing about 66 per cent thermal. It was reported recently that we had gas shortage and that affected our electricity production.
“Our hydro potential has reduced and so if we continue to rely on thermals and we won’t have reliable supply of gas, you can imagine what we will go through,” he said.
Acknowledging some dangers associated with the nuclear technology, he said nuclear was one of the cleanest and safest sources of energy with the potential to be an alternative baseload for Ghana.
Mr Kingsford Eshun, the Headmaster for CCTI, welcomed the proposal and commended Nuclear Power Ghana for making the school part of the project.
Even though students produced by the school were competent for employment, the headmaster said most of the programmes did not provide industrial skills, compelling most students to acquire extra training so they could be engaged by companies.
“They want us to prepare the students to come out with some standard for direct employment and we are fully prepared to do that. We must prepare the students to such a standard that the Nuclear Power Ghana can employ them directly,” he said.
He said in its quest to produce industry-ready students, the Institute had just partnered with a Design Technology Institute, to train some 250 students across all programmes on precision quality.