The Africa Sustainable Energy Centre (ASEC) has urged the Ghanaian government to develop an integrated energy diversification roadmap that balances its proposed nuclear power programme with increased investments in renewable energy.
ASEC said the reported cooperation between Ghana and Russia to build a 2,000‑megawatt nuclear power plant could strengthen the country’s energy security, but nuclear generation should complement rather than displace investments in solar, wind, hydropower and battery storage.
In a statement issued on Tuesday, November 3, ASEC described nuclear power as a potential source of reliable, low‑carbon electricity to support Ghana’s industrialisation and complement existing hydroelectric and thermal generation.
It warned against concentrating the country’s energy expansion efforts on nuclear power while leaving its renewable energy potential under‑utilised, particularly in solar generation.
Beyond electricity generation, the Centre believes the proposed nuclear project could create opportunities for technology transfer, specialised skills development and local industrial growth. It is therefore urging the government to involve Ghanaian universities, research institutions and engineering firms in the programme.
ASEC also raised concerns about Ghana’s maintenance culture, arguing that the country must address weaknesses in its existing energy infrastructure before taking on the demands of operating a nuclear facility. “We cannot aspire to operate a world‑class nuclear power facility while maintaining a third‑class maintenance culture,” the Centre cautioned.
It called for a shift from reactive repairs to preventive and predictive maintenance across power generation facilities, transmission networks, substations, distribution systems and gas processing infrastructure. The Centre further stressed the need for predictable maintenance budgets, skilled personnel, adequate spare parts and stronger institutional accountability to improve the reliability of existing energy infrastructure.
On safety and financing, ASEC called for independent nuclear regulation, compliance with International Atomic Energy Agency standards and adequate emergency preparedness and radioactive waste management systems. It also urged the government to ensure transparency in project financing and procurement, assess the long‑term costs of the proposed plant and strengthen transmission infrastructure to accommodate the additional generation capacity.
What follows is a call for a balanced, diversified energy strategy that safeguards Ghana’s industrial future while protecting its renewable potential.
