By: Doreen Ampofo
The Chief Executive of Fair Wages and Salaries Commission, (FWSC) Ing. Benjamin Arthur has paid working visits to the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission (GAEC) and the Nuclear Regulatory Authority (NRA) aimed at enhancing collaborations with key institutions in Ghana.
The meetings were to enable the FWSC to gain insight into the operations of the two institutions and know the concerns of the workforce especially in relation to their conditions of service.
GAEC Collaboration
The meeting at GAEC provided a platform for the institution to showcase its technological and scientific innovations, including gamma irradiation and the Black Soldier Fly Technology, which offer significant benefits in agriculture and waste management.
In a remark, the Director General (DG) of (GAEC), Prof Samuel B. Dampare highlighted the commission’s remarkable progress in health, agriculture, medicine, industry, and space science.
He said GAEC was recognised globally as one of the leading institutions contributing to sustainable nuclear science and technology.
Prof Dampare indicated that GAEC was strategically established with a focus on research and development, innovation and technology transfer, human resource development, education and training.
Innovations
The Director of Radiological and Medical Sciences Research Institute (RAMSIR) at GAEC, Associate Professor Francis Hasford provided an overview of GAEC’s activities, highlighting its 62-year existence and its focus on the positive use of nuclear and allied sciences for national development.
He said GAEC has seven technical institutes and five directorates, contributing to key sectors such as food and agriculture, health and safety, and energy and power.
Prof Hasford highlighted some technological innovations in agriculture, including the gamma irradiation which helps to extend the shelf life of perishable food items and the Black Soldier Fly Technology, which offers significant business opportunities in agriculture and waste management.
The Director for Commercialisation and Communication, Nana Boateng explained that GAEC was working on protecting and managing the intellectual property of GAEC research output and promoting the transfer of technology to the private sector to support the government’s agenda of industrial development.
NRA Engagement
The Director General of the NRA, Dr Nii Kwashie Allotey after welcoming the Fair Wages delegation highlighted the NRA’s role in regulating the use of nuclear and other radioactive sources in Ghana and ensuring the protection of the general public, patients, and workers from harmful radiation effects.
As Ghana advances towards nuclear power generation, he said the NRA plays a critical role in ensuring the safety and security of future plants.
He spoke about the high attrition rate at the NRA attributing it to low remuneration which he noted could have dire consequences for the work of the Authority if the trend continued.
The authority in 2022 boasted of a staff strength of 95 but currently has 78 workers.
Dr Allotey said it takes a lot of time and resources to train the experts and therefore filling vacant positions comes at a huge cost.
He emphasised the need for better conditions of service to reduce attrition and support the country’s development in nuclear power generation.
The Director of the Nuclear Installations Directorate at the NRA, Prof Emmanuel Ampomah-Amoako said the NRA’s activities involve developing regulations, reviewing applications, conducting regulatory inspections, and enforcing compliance with nuclear and radiation safety standards.
Key sectors with radiation applications in Ghana he said included agriculture, health, education/research, construction, telecommunication, archaeology, power, oil and gas, mining, and law enforcement.
The authority he added plays a crucial role in national security, preventing unauthorized access to radioactive materials, and ensuring the safety of the public, workers, and the environment.
For his part, Ing. Arthur indicated the commitment of the FWSC to collaborate with all stakeholders to address concerns and promote fair compensation practices in Ghana.
He urged NRA to redevelop its scheme of service to reflect various grades and enable a compensatory salary structure.
Better conditions of service
A major topic of discussion at both meetings was the conditions of service in the two institutions, leading to high attrition rates due to low remunerations.
For his part, Ing. Arthur indicated the commitment of the FWSC to collaborate with all stakeholders to address concerns and promote fair compensation practices in Ghana.
He urged the two institutions to redevelop their scheme of service to reflect various grades and enable a compensatory salary structure.
The parties reaffirmed their commitment to collaboration and agreed to take proactive steps to address salary and conditions of service challenges.
