Civil Society Organizations in the country have been encouraged to be actively involved in discussions on surrounding its plans to explore nuclear energy.
In a meeting with a visiting group of CSOs from across the continent and Europe, participating organizations were given insights what the situation is for countries that have adopted the technology.
In the case of Ghana, the Three-Sixty Human Rights, which has been at the forefront of advocating against Ghana’s adoption of nuclear energy, took participants through Ghana’s situation and explained the reasons behind its stance.
The group which has been campaigning for a nuclear free Ghana in their presentation revealed that Ghana’s nuclear energy programme which started as early as 1957 with all 5 administrations of the 4th Republic having a hand in its development.
In their engagements with stakeholders including traditional and political authorities, Three Sixty Human Rights shared that the main consensus reached include organizations in the space working together with traditional authorities to make Ghanaians aware of what is described as a “looming cancer” that is a threat to our lives now and in the future. Other outcomes have also been for all Ghanaians both home and abroad to be “vigilant and reject” attempts to adopt nuclear energy and lastly the need for “special education and sensitization programs” to be tailored for youth and children to equip them with adequate information.
In an exchange of knowledge and information, partners also exposed their Ghanaian counterparts to the realities of nuclear energy activities across the continent, particularly in Kenya, South Africa, and Zambia. Their presentations also highlighted the importance of information these processes as it gives citizens the power they have for self-determination in these critical decisions.
Leading the concerns raised by the Ghanaian CSOs was the lack of transparency and information regarding the country’s plans to explore nuclear energy.
CSOs emphasized the need for broad consultations and the dissemination of information, citing concerns that technocrats seem to support the idea of nuclear energy despite the known potential threats it poses.
The collective encouraged that the country focus more on investing in renewable as energy derived from these sources are natural and has a higher replenishing rate compared to nuclear.
