GHANA SUPPORTS U.S. PEACEFUL USE OF NUCLEAR ENERGY, SEEKS

UNCLAS SECTION 01 OF 02 ACCRA 000144

SENSITIVE

SIPDIS

DEPARTMENT FOR S/CIEA
DEPARTMENT FOR ISN/MNSA
DEPARTMENT OF ENERGY FOR OFFICE OF NUCLEAR ENERGY ED MCGINNIS, GRAIG
WELLING, ELIZABETH LISANN
DEPARTMENT OF COMMERCE FOR SARAH LOPP

E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: ENRG PARM IAEA PREL NPT GH
SUBJECT: GHANA SUPPORTS U.S. PEACEFUL USE OF NUCLEAR ENERGY, SEEKS
"PROMISED LAND" OF ENERGY SECURITY

REF: A) 09 STATE 129517 B) 09 ACCRA 01612


1. (SBU) SUMMARY: In response to reftel A demarche, the Ghana Atomic
Energy Commission offered "political support" for the USG in the
upcoming NPT Review Conference. Ghana embraces the future use of
nuclear power for its energy security, medicine, and other peaceful
uses. Although Ghana has stated it will ratify the CBTB Treaty and
the African Nuclear Weapon Free Zone Treaty, and nuclear
disarmament, the GOG does not want the disarmament issue to detract
from the promotion of nuclear technology's peaceful applications.
The Director General invited S/CIEA David Goldwyn to speak on
nuclear power and energy security in Ghana and pledged to work with
the Energy Commission to support the GNEP Steering Group meeting to
be held in Accra on April 21-22. END SUMMARY.

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GHANA TO SUPPORT USG IN NPT
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2. (SBU) In response to reftel demarche, Director General Dr.
Edward Akaho of the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission (GAEC) told
Econoffs that Ghana would provide the U.S. with "political support"
during the upcoming Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT)
quinquennial Review Conference and reiterated the GAEC's role as the
main advocate for all nuclear applications in Ghana.

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GHANA: GO NUKES
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3. (SBU) Citing Ghana's need for a stable electricity supply for
industrial development, Akaho said the GOG had "no choice" but to
embrace nuclear power generation as a long-term future goal, as long
as "it is done right." Akaho pledged that through the IAEA, NPT,
and GNEP, Ghana would signal its clear intentions for peaceful,
civilian nuclear energy use in order to gain international
acceptance and trust, and for Ghana to reach the "promised land of
energy security."


4. (SBU) Akaho expressed pride in Ghana's role as a trainer for
other African countries in radiotherapy, and as a role model in
safety and security of nuclear materials and facilities. He hoped
that construction of the IAEA Security Support Center in Ghana would
be completed by June 2010 in order to increase Ghana's ability to
conduct training on the continent. He said the IAEA was helping the
GOG to set up a functioning independent Nuclear Regulatory
Authority, although he gave no date for its finalization. He
applauded USG support for Ghana's waste management and storage
programs. He added that GOG funding would eventually become
available to establish a nuclear imaging and medical center on the
GAEC's bucolic 40-acre campus next to the University of Ghana, and
that the Commission has already reached out to a medical technology
park in Chicago to partner with the GAEC, in order to provide early
detection of cancer and cardiovascular afflictions common in Ghana.


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DISARMAMENT GOOD, PEACEFUL NUKES BETTER
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5. (SBU) Akaho also related that the GOG took the NPT seriously.
Nuclear disarmament is important to the GOG, and was a focus of the
last NPT Review Conference. He mentioned interest in ratifying the
CBTB Treaty, and informed Econoffs that the African Nuclear Weapon
Free Zone Treaty (Treaty of Pelindaba) currently was being reviewed
by Cabinet prior to parliamentary ratification. Akaho stated that
Qby Cabinet prior to parliamentary ratification. Akaho stated that
it was a concern that nuclear weapon holding states were not
reducing their nuclear arsenals, but more important to Ghana is the
promotion of peaceful applications of nuclear technology.

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S/CIEA AND GNEP STEERING GROUP: YOU ARE WELCOME
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6. (U) Working with the Ghana Nuclear Society, an advocacy group,
and the IAEA, the GAEC hosts occasional meetings of international
nuclear experts for talks in Ghana. Akaho expressed interest in
S/CIEA David Goldwyn visiting Ghana to talk about nuclear power and
energy security in 2010.


7. (U) In response to Department of Energy Office of Nuclear Energy
Team Leader Elizabeth Lisann's site visit in preparation for Ghana's
hosting of the April 21-22 Global Nuclear Energy Partnership (GNEP)
Steering Group Meeting in Accra, Dr. Akaho said that together with
the Energy Commission and Ministry of Energy, the GAEC embraced the

ACCRA 00000144 002 OF 002


pivotal opportunity to bring GNEP to Ghana to discuss important
changes to the name and focus of the Partnership.

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IS NUCLEAR POWER REALLY FEASIBLE IN GHANA?
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8. (SBU) COMMENT: GAEC's goal of someday achieving 40 percent of
electricity supply from nuclear power, about double the current U.S.
rate, does not appear feasible any time soon (reftel B). But the
GAEC, having persevered through everything from indifference to open
hostility from civilian and military rulers since establishment in
1963, is used to adversity and distant goal-setting. Nonetheless,
given the GOG's current budgetary woes and IMF program, government
funding for GAEC projects remains a pie-in-the-sky scenario for the
forseeable future.


9. (SBU) COMMENT, CONTINUED. Despite a lack of concrete funding for
nuclear applications, and higher energy priorities centered around
oil and gas exploration under the Mills Administration, and large
technical hurdles to actually commencing a civilian nuclear energy
program, Ghana's nuclear experts have their hearts in the right
place, are role models in West Africa, and are reliably supportive
of USG policies and goals related to the peaceful use of nuclear
technology. Ghana rightfully remains focused on practical measures
that will build support for Ghana's development of a civilian
nuclear power program: the medical, agricultural, and industrial
uses of nuclear science. The GOG works closely with the U.S. in
GNEP, and is frequently supportive of the USG in the IAEA and the
NPT Review Conference. END COMMENT.

TEITELBAUM