The Government of Ghana will invest US$200 million in a 24-month nuclear-readiness programme to prepare the country for the development of a fully state-owned nuclear power plant.
The programme, scheduled to run from January 2027 to December 2028, will also see more than 2,000 Ghanaian scientists trained to develop the local expertise required to support Ghana’s transition to nuclear energy.
Finance Minister Dr Cassiel Ato Forson announced the initiative when he presented the 2027 Budget Statement and Economic Policy to Parliament on Thursday, November 12, 2026.
He said the government’s target was to complete all critical nuclear-readiness activities and sign the Engineering, Procurement, Construction and Financing (EPCF) contract for the proposed plant by December 2028.
Dr Forson, however, clarified that completing the readiness programme would not mean Ghana would begin generating electricity from nuclear power in 2028.
“ Nuclear power readiness in 2028 does not mean nuclear power generation in 2028,” he told Parliament, explaining that the period would be used to complete essential preparations, including site suitability studies, technology selection, environmental assessments, financing arrangements, licensing preparations, nuclear safeguards, emergency planning and safety assessments.
He further stressed that the proposed nuclear power plant would remain a strategic national asset owned by the state and would not be developed under an Independent Power Producer (IPP) arrangement.
International partners, he said, would provide technical expertise, financing, engineering and other specialised services to support the project.
As part of the programme, the government will train more than 2,000 scientists to build the human resource capacity needed to manage and sustain Ghana’s nuclear power ambitions.
Dr Forson drew comparisons with Ghana’s early investment in hydroelectric power, recalling the vision of Ghana’s first President, Dr Kwame Nkrumah, in the construction of the Akosombo Dam more than six decades ago.
“Over 60 years ago, Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah gave his beloved Ghana its first great source of baseload power at Akosombo. He built for generations he would never meet,” he said.
He added that Ghana must demonstrate similar foresight and commitment in pursuing nuclear energy.
“For years, we have spoken about developing a nuclear power plant. The time has come to turn that ambition into action,” Dr Forson stated.
