Ghana has begun discussions with Rosatom on first nuclear power station – Mahama

President John Dramani Mahama has announced that Ghana has begun discussions with the Russian State Nuclear Energy Corporation, Rosatom, to establish the country’s first nuclear power station.

Speaking at the Third Russia-Africa Forum in Moscow, President Mahama highlighted the critical role of reliable electricity in Africa’s development.

The President identified inadequate electricity as a major obstacle to Africa’s progress, stressing that industrialisation requires reliable, affordable energy to succeed.

“We have initiated discussions with Rosatom on the establishment of Ghana’s first nuclear power station,” adding that Russia has a comparative advantage in renewable energy and nuclear power, an area where cooperation between Russia and Africa could yield tangible results.

He noted that Ghana had a historical relationship with Russia in the peaceful use of nuclear energy, recalling that as far back as 1964, the Soviet Union provided Ghana with a two-megawatt nuclear reactor for scientific and research purposes.

President Mahama stated that several Ghanaian nuclear scientists were trained in Russia to operate the reactor.

The announcement marks a significant step in Ghana’s long-standing ambition to add nuclear power to its energy mix, as electricity demand grows with industrial expansion and population growth.

A nuclear power station would provide baseload capacity to complement the country’s existing hydropower and thermal generation sources.

President Mahama’s remarks underscore the broader case for strengthened Russia-Africa cooperation in the energy sector, with Moscow positioned as a partner in both renewable energy and nuclear technology.

The President said such cooperation could deliver concrete results for the continent’s industrialisation drive.