International Conference on Nuclear Security 2020

ROLE OF NUCLEAR SECURITY SUPPORT CENTRE IN DEVELOPMENT OF NUCLEAR SECURITY REGIME IN GHANA

Not scheduled

15m

Poster CC: Role of Nuclear Security Support Centers to support and sustain national nuclear security regimes

Speaker

Emmanuel Ampomah-Amoako (Nuclear Regulatory Authority, Ghana)

Description

The Nuclear Regulatory Authority Act, 2015 (Act 895) established the Nuclear Regulatory Authority (NRA) to provide for the regulation and management of activities and practices for the peaceful use of nuclear material or energy, radioactive material or radiation; to provide for the protection of persons and the environment against the harmful effects of radiation hazards; to ensure the effective implementation of Ghana’s international obligations and for related matters. The NRA oversees activities of the Nuclear Security Support Centre (NSSC) which provides training support in areas of Nuclear Security, Nuclear Safety and Radiation Protection. The Centre provides equipment support services to front line officers. The NSSC provides assistance in physical protection of nuclear material and nuclear facilities; safeguards, accountancy and control aspects; use of radiation detection equipment by government officials; safety and security associated with radioactive sources; radiation detection equipment and maintenance; combating illicit trafficking of nuclear and radiological materials; search and recovery of orphan sources; nuclear forensics; International legal instruments on nuclear security; wider management skills and development of a nuclear security culture; and awareness raising to policy makers and other public officials whose job requires an appropriate knowledge of nuclear security. There is a need to focus the activities of the Centre to achieve these goals. The Centre has been spearheading training of frontline officers in use of radiation detection equipment and nuclear security. The Centre has hosted fellows of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) from neighbouring States to assist in developing their knowledge in the use of detection equipment and conduct of nuclear security inspections. This paper provides the discussion on the role of the Nuclear Security Support Centre in developing and sustaining the nuclear security regime in Ghana.