The 10th College of Basic and Applied Sciences Public Lecture will be held as follows:
Topic: Development of Regulatory Infrastructure for Nuclear Power Programme in Ghana
Speaker: Prof. I.J. Kwame Aboh – Ag. Director-General, Nuclear Regulatory Authority
Date: Thursday April 4, 2019
Time: 3:00 pm
Venue: Auditorium of the Centre for African Wetlands, University of Ghana, Legon
Chairman: Prof. Daniel K. Asiedu (Provost, College of Basic and Applied Sciences)
All are cordially invited
Abstract
Nuclear energy and its techniques have been powerful tools applied in different areas of human activities since the early 19th century. In Ghana it is being applied in health, agriculture, industry, environment, research, education and training, among others. There is renewed global interest in the use of nuclear power for stable source of electricity generation and Ghana is one of the countries in Africa considering the introduction of nuclear power into its energy mix.
The infrastructure necessary for a safe, secure and sustainable nuclear power programme must be planned and prepared carefully and requires long-term commitment. Developing the infrastructure for a successful introduction of nuclear power requires many activities such as building national institutions, establishing a legal and regulatory framework, developing human resources and financial strategies, addressing radioactive waste management and the involvement of stakeholders. There are three main organisations that are involved in this infrastructure development, namely; the Owner Operator of the Nuclear Power Plant, the Technical Support Organisation and the Regulatory Authority, all coordinated by the Ghana Nuclear Power Programme Orgnisation (GNPPO).
The Nuclear Regulatory Authority Act, 2015 (Act 895) established the Nuclear Regulatory Authority (NRA) to provide for the regulation and management of activities and practices for the peaceful use of nuclear material or energy, radioactive material or radiation; to provide for the protection of persons and the environment against the harmful effects of radiation hazards; to ensure the effective implementation of Ghana’s international obligations and related matters.
This presentation focuses on the development of the regulatory infrastructure for nuclear power programme in Ghana. Issues to be discussed will include:
* Legal and Regulatory Framework
* Regulatory Approach
* Regulatory Risk
* Independence and Regulatory Effectiveness
* Regulatory Management System
* Human Resource and Competency Development
* Relationship with Stakeholders
* International Regulatory Cooperation
* Challenges and the way Forward
Profile
Prof. Innocent Joy Kwame Aboh obtained a BSc degree in Physics from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology, Kumasi in 1985 and an MPhil degree in Physics from the University of Ghana, Legon in 1990. He obtained his PhD in Physics through an International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) "sandwich programme” between the University of Borås, Sweden and the University of Ghana, Legon in 2009.
He was appointed Assistant Research Scientist at the National Nuclear Research Institute (NNRI) of GAEC in October 1987. He attained the highest rank of Chief Research Scientist in 2012 and thereafter had an Associate Professorship conferred on him on 1st September 2013.
Prof. Aboh held several positions at the GAEC including Deputy Director General from March 2012 until January 2016 when he was transferred to the newly established Nuclear Regulatory Authority (NRA) as a Chief Nuclear Regulator and Deputy Director General. He has been the Acting Director General of the NRA since November 2017 and a Member of the Ghana Nuclear Power Programme Organisation (GNPPO).
Prof Aboh doubled as the Project Director (2013 – 2017) for Ghana’s Miniature Neutron Source Reactor (MNSR) core conversion from high enriched uranium (HEU) to low enriched uranium (LEU). The over twenty-two million U. S. dollar (US$22m) project to convert the first MNSR of Chinese origin outside China was successful and the used HEU MNSR core was repatriated to China. The “Ghana Model”, as it is known of the conversion, is now the internationally accepted blue print successfully deployed in Nigeria and prescribed for Pakistan, Syria and Iran to implement by the International community. Through the project the first International MNSR Training Facility (IMTF) outside China has been built in Ghana for training and education of both Ghanaians and foreigners.
His research interests include:
1. Developing appropriate regulations and required guidelines to assist in the permit, authorisation and licensing of nuclear and radiological facilities;
2. Nuclear power reactor technology assessment and public education on nuclear power;
3. Sources and characterization of air particulate matter and air quality studies using Nuclear Analytical Techniques (NAT) and exploitation;
4. Application of NAT in environmental pollution monitoring and studies.
Prof. Aboh has authored over 50 articles in International and National peer-reviewed Journals and co-authored over 25 technical documents used for permits and authorizations for the MNSR core conversion. He is a member of the Ghana Science Association - where he served as Hon. National Secretary (1999-2001), Hon. National Treasurer (2003 - 2007) and a National Executive Committee Member (1995 – 2007). He is also a Fellow and Director of International Relations of the Ghana Nuclear Society.
He has participated in several conferences and workshops both locally and internationally.
Prof. Aboh has lectured at the University of Ghana, Legon since 1996 and assisted in developing MPhil and PhD course curricula at the Graduate School of Nuclear and Allied Sciences (SNAS). He has also supervised several undergraduate and graduate theses work. He is married with three children.
