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The Institute of Economic Affairs (IEA) Ghana has initiated a one-year project to bolster Ghana's Nuclear Power Programme in Phase Two. Known as the Ghana Nuclear Phase II Completion and Investment Readiness Support Programme, this initiative aims to strengthen various aspects of the country's nuclear ambitions. The primary focus of the project is on enhancing institutional coordination, human resource capacity, regulatory preparedness, and the development of necessary policy and investment frameworks.

The IEA emphasizes that this programme is a significant contribution to Ghana's efforts in addressing nuclear infrastructure requirements and preparing for critical decisions regarding the construction of its first nuclear power plant. The country is currently progressing through Phase Two of the International Atomic Energy Agency's (IAEA) Milestones Approach, a structured framework guiding nuclear power programme development.

At this stage, Ghana aims to fulfill the requirements of the second milestone, which involves making the country ready to invite bids or negotiate a contract for the first nuclear power plant. While Ghana has made considerable progress in setting up the foundation for its nuclear energy programme, the IEA highlights the need for sustained attention to institutional effectiveness, technical preparedness, financing arrangements, regulatory capacity, and coordination among the organizations involved.

The IEA's project will focus on strengthening governance and institutional coordination among various stakeholders, including government ministries, implementing institutions, the nuclear regulatory authority, electricity-sector organizations, technical agencies, and other relevant parties. By engaging with these entities, the project aims to identify critical implementation priorities, delineate institutional responsibilities, establish coordination requirements, and address potential obstacles hindering the completion of Phase Two activities.

Additionally, the initiative will assess Ghana's human resource and competency requirements for the next stages of nuclear power development. As nuclear energy infrastructure demands a highly specialized workforce across various disciplines, the project will evaluate priority human capacity needs, develop a workforce planning framework, and identify existing capabilities, critical competency gaps, and opportunities for coordinated training and professional development.

Special emphasis will be placed on ensuring the sustainability of Ghana's nuclear workforce and maintaining alignment between capacity-building efforts and evolving institutional responsibilities.