Ghana is targeting 1,000 megawatts of nuclear power by the mid-2030s, as the country looks to secure reliable electricity for industry, businesses and a growing economy.
The target was announced at the opening of the 2026 US-Africa Nuclear Energy Summit (USANES) in Accra, where Ghana’s nuclear plans were discussed alongside Africa’s growing need for dependable electricity. The theme for the three-day event is “Building And Sustaining Africa’s Nuclear Workforce”
Opening the summit, Chairman of the Governing Board of the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission (GAEC), Prof. Abdulai Baba Salifu, said Africa’s industrialisation and economic transformation would depend heavily on having a reliable energy supply.
He said nuclear power should not replace Africa’s existing sources of electricity, but should become part of a broader mix that includes renewables and other sources.
Africa’s power needs are growing
Prof. Salifu said almost 600 million Africans still do not have access to electricity, while many who do have access continue to experience unreliable supply.
That problem is expected to become more pressing as the continent’s population and economies expand.
Africa’s electricity demand is projected to increase by 47% by 2030 and almost sevenfold by 2050, while the continent is expected to account for about a quarter of the world’s population by mid-century.
“The energy needs of this future Africa will be immense, and they will not be met by the energy systems of the past,” he said.
He pointed to growing nuclear activity across the continent, including Egypt’s El Dabaa project, South Africa’s plans for 5,200MW, Kenya’s 1,000MW target and Rwanda’s plans for a Small Modular Reactor.
Projections indicate that Africa could add up to 15,000MW of nuclear capacity by 2035, requiring an estimated investment of about US$105 billion.
Ghana prepares for nuclear power
Ghana is also moving through the process of developing its own nuclear power programme.
Prof. Salifu said the country is progressing through Phase II of the International Atomic Energy Agency’s (IAEA) Milestones Approach, having completed the first phase, which assessed the country’s readiness.
Key institutions, including the Nuclear Regulatory Authority and Nuclear Power Ghana, have been established, while Ghana continues to work with international partners.
The country is also investing in the people needed to operate a future nuclear industry.
In 2023, the U.S. Department of Energy and GAEC established the Regional Energy Training Center (RETC) in Ghana to provide training in areas such as integrated energy systems, energy modelling, leadership and project management.
Ghana has also commissioned a NuScale Full-scope Energy Exploration Center under the U.S. Department of State’s FIRST programme and launched a welding instructor certification programme with the Design and Technology Institute.
Prof. Salifu said these initiatives were helping Ghana build the skills needed for its own programme while developing its position as a training centre for other African countries.
Government backs 1,000MW target
The preparations are being matched by a firm commitment from government.
Minister of Energy and Green Transition John Abdulai Jinapor said nuclear power is a key part of Ghana’s long-term energy strategy.
He said the government’s energy transition framework, which runs to 2070, combines natural gas, renewable energy and nuclear power.
“Nuclear energy forms a critical pillar of this strategy,” Mr Jinapor said.
The government expects nuclear power to provide reliable, firm and low-carbon electricity for industry and support job creation and economic growth.
He also linked the nuclear programme to President John Dramani Mahama’s 24-hour economy initiative, saying reliable electricity would be essential for businesses expected to operate for longer hours.
Ghana wants more power for West Africa
Mr Jinapor said Ghana’s nuclear plans also fit into its ambition to become an electricity hub for the West African region.
Ghana currently exports electricity to Burkina Faso, Benin, Togo and Côte d’Ivoire, while efforts are underway to expand exports to Nigeria.
“Nuclear power offers a unique combination of reliable, around-the-clock, and low-carbon electricity,” he said.
Additional generation capacity, he said, could help Ghana meet domestic demand while strengthening its ability to supply neighbouring countries.
Government wants to reduce fear around nuclear
Mr Jinapor acknowledged that nuclear energy still makes some Ghanaians uneasy.
“One thing I realise in Ghana is, anytime you mention nuclear, it sends some panic waves across society,” he said.
He said the government would have to do more to explain the technology and involve the public as the programme progresses.
“We need to also beef up the communication, step up the communication, and engage with all the stakeholders, so that we carry the people along,” he said.
US partnership
The United States is also playing a role in Ghana’s nuclear preparations.
Mr Jinapor pointed to the 2021 Memorandum of Understanding on Strategic Civil Nuclear Cooperation between Ghana and the U.S., which has supported training and institutional development.
He said Ghana and the United States are also close to completing their 123 Agreement, with the agreement already initialled and going through the remaining approval processes.
Ghana now has a clear target of 1,000MW of nuclear power by the mid-2030s, alongside the institutions, training programmes and international partnerships needed to move the programme forward.
The next challenge is turning those preparations into an operating nuclear power programme that can provide the reliable electricity Ghana needs while earning public confidence in the safety of the technology.
