House adopts report on Radioactive Waste Management

Accra (Greater Accra) 10th June '99

Parliament on Tuesday adopted the report of the Committee on Environment, Science and Technology on the Ratification of the Joint Convention on the Safety of Spent Fuel Management and Radioactive Waste Management.

The joint convention is aimed at achieving and maintaining a high level of safety, world-wide in spent fuel management through the enhancement of national measures and international co-operation.

This would help protect human health and the environment to ensure that undue burden is not imposed on future generations.

Members, who contributed to the debate on the report were of a consensus that appropriate steps be taken to ensure that at all stages of spent fuel management, individuals, society and the environment are adequately protected against radiological hazards.

They were also of the view that a systematic safety and environmental assessment be taken before the construction of a radioactive waste management facility.

This, the members said, would help provide reasonable assurance in the achievement of compliance with safety and regulatory requirement.

Members were optimistic that Ghana's ratification of the Convention would assure the international community of her good intentions in any nuclear programme and policies that the country may undertake.