Ghana addresses nuclear scientist exodus and AI oversight

Ghana’s Minister of Environment, Science and Technology, Dr. Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings, has raised concerns regarding the loss of specialized nuclear scientists at the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission (GAEC). She warned that the country risks losing experts faster than it can train them, noting that it takes approximately 15 years to develop a fully productive nuclear scientist. Agyeman-Rawlings urged GAEC management to identify and address the drivers behind this exodus to protect Ghana’s long-term nuclear ambitions.

In relation to technological advancement, the Minister emphasized the need for human oversight in the management of a proposed AI Data Centre. She stated that AI should not operate Ghana’s nuclear programme without strict human governance and technical safeguards to protect sensitive information.

Additionally, Ghana and Germany have entered discussions to expand cooperation in nuclear science and technology. The bilateral talks between Agyeman-Rawlings and Germany’s Federal Minister for Research, Technology and Space, Dorothee Bar, focused on utilizing nuclear technology to improve cancer detection and radiotherapy capabilities in Ghana, as well as fostering research partnerships and technical capacity building.