Africa needs accelerated communication strategy for nuclear technology – Ayittey
Ms Sherry Ayittey, Minister of Environment, Science and Technology (MEST), has called for the creation of accelerated communication strategy to enhance public education on the usage of nuclear technology and biotechnologies in Africa.
She said the usefulness of nuclear technology, if well understood and well accepted, would help improve health, agriculture, food processing and water provision.
“It is only when we Africans begin to consistently apply science and technology that we can improve on the lives of our people,” she added.
Ms Ayittey made the call when addressing the opening session of a five-day training course for over 70 participants from 23 African countries in Accra.
It is being organised by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in collaboration with Ghana Atomic Energy Commission (GAEC) on “Technical Cooperation Programme Planning and Design for Project Counterparts in the African Region”.
The course is intended to assist participating countries to share best practices, undertake objective analysis, logical framework approach, project work plan development, monitoring and reporting of technical cooperation and programme planning.
The Sector Minister explained that Africans needed to use the knowledge acquired in nuclear technology in consultation with the private sector and the public on the positive usage of technology for the benefit of all and sundry.
She noted that the technical cooperation projects were based on the country programme framework which was prepared by each member state based on the country’s developmental agenda.
Ms Ayittey urged member countries to ensure that their governments provided the needed support and resources to enhance work of the Atomic Energy Commissions and their various institutes for the development of nuclear energy.
Dr Ali Boussaha, Director of Technical Cooperation, Africa Session of IAEA, encouraged member countries to adopt ownership of the technical cooperation project, adopt participatory approach and ensure quality of work.
He said member countries should ensure the country’s programme framework which should have a direct impact on the country’s socio-economic development.
“It is in line with this that the inter-regional projects on sharing best practices was formulated and approved by IAEA and through the proper and effective management of these projects based on best practice and knowledge available that the full value of these projects can be felt by citizens of member states.”
Dr Boussaha called on governments in member states to have in place the right policy guidelines to ensure the success of these projects.
Professor Yaw Serfor-Armah, Deputy Director-General of GAEC, said sharing information was very essential and that the management, operation and utilisation of nuclear technology required building human capacity.
He encouraged participants to be serious with the course to enrich their knowledge to move the issue on nuclear energy forward in Africa.
Source: GNA