Ghana Atomic Energy Commission Engages Fisheries Minister on Nuclear Energy for Aquaculture Development

The Minister for Fisheries and Aquaculture, Hon. Emelia Arthur, has received a delegation from the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission (GAEC) during a courtesy call aimed at exploring the use of nuclear energy to boost aquaculture development in Ghana.

Leading the delegation was Mr. Abdou Salam Ndiath, Section Head for the Department of Technical Cooperation at the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) – Africa Division. He highlighted how nuclear technology can significantly enhance aquaculture, particularly in areas such as disease diagnostics, fish feed formulation, genetics, post-harvest processing, food safety, and vaccine development.

Mr. Ndiath emphasized that the collaboration has the potential to revolutionize aquaculture in Ghana and contribute to food security. He also announced plans to establish a dedicated laboratory to train personnel in the application of nuclear energy for aquaculture. The facility will be fully equipped to support innovation in the sector.

Hon. Emelia Arthur expressed her excitement about the initiative, describing aquaculture as the “next big thing” for the fisheries sector. She acknowledged the ongoing challenges in fish feed production and noted that this partnership could help address such issues through advanced technology. The Minister further stressed the importance of institutionalizing the relationship between GAEC and the Fisheries Ministry to ensure long-term collaboration.

Source : MOFAD