It is about time the records are set straight against the views held by many Ghanaians that nuclear energy is a mass weapon for destruction, with dangerous radioactive waste and nuclear meltdowns.
The Chronicle must commend Nuclear Power Ghana (NPG), the entity spearheading Ghana’s quest to establish a nuclear power plant for holding a workshop for capacity-building for some media professionals in Accra on nuclear energy and the need for a Nuclear Power Plant (NPP) in Ghana.
Themed: ‘Nuclear safety, public fear and concern’, the workshop gave the media professionals more insight into the environmental friendliness of nuclear energy and allaying the notorious fear that nuclear energy is precarious to human health.
Nuclear energy, as a technology, requires a lot of engagement with the public and with the media being close to the people, building the capacity of the professionals was commendable as they would, in turn, educate the public to accept this alternative source of energy because the decisions on building plants, supporting governments’ funding and investing in the nuclear industry depend on public acceptance.
Nuclear energy, generated by steam engines, is a viable, low-carbon base-load power source. It is one of the safest options for powering a green future; a future Ghana and the world are looking forward to witnessing in the not too distant future.
There is no science fiction in the benefits of nuclear energy as scientists, who continue to improve reactors and safety systems for a future of clean, sustainable electricity, have worked out how to split the atom, harness its energy and convert it to usable electricity.
Therefore, that nuclear energy can also result in impotence among men, is a rumour that must be ignored by the Ghanaian public.
Ghana, aware of nuclear safety as one of the most important components of any international and national commitment associated with the use of nuclear energy for electricity generation, plans to construct a Nuclear Power Plant for electricity and a clean environment.
According to media reports, Ms Bellona-Gerard Vittor-Quao, Public Affairs Manager for Nuclear Power Ghana, at the workshop, did not rubbish public reasons to oppose nuclear energy simply for safety or environmental grounds, however, she said history has proven it to be one of the safest and most efficient energy production technologies available to Ghana.
“History has also shown us that misperceptions about nuclear technology have been far more costly for humanity than nuclear energy production itself. For over half a century, nuclear energy has played a significant role in the industrialisation and development of most developed countries,” she explained further.
Reading a little about nuclear energy and listening to professionals like Ms Vittor-Quao and Professor Seth Debrah, Director, Nuclear Power Institute and watching videos on it, there is no doubt that the time for Ghana to go the nuclear energy way is now, and the public must support it.
Finally and most importantly, the media professionals who fortunately benefited from the NPG capacity-building workshop must dedicate space to constantly educate the public on the enormous benefits of nuclear energy and allay the chronic fear that it is tantamount to wiping the human race.
