Ghana - World Nuclear Outlook Report
Nuclear policy and outlook
Ghana has had aspirations to develop nuclear energy since the 1960s and currently has a target of about 1000 MWe of nuclear capacity operational by 2034. In September 2023, Nuclear Power Ghana (NPG) announced that it selected Nsuban in Ghana’s Western Region as its preferred nuclear power plant location, with Obotan in the Central Region as a backup site.
In March 2025, NPG announced that CNNC had been selected to develop an approximately 1200 MWe reactor under a build-operate-transfer model, alongside the NuScale SMR project. In early 2026, NPG reported that insufficient funding was delaying detailed site characterization and environmental impact studies.
Table Gh.1 Contributions to total capacity projection in 2050 (gross)
| 60 year operation (MWe) | 80 year operation (MWe) | Currently under construction capacity (MWe) | Planned capacity (MWe) | Proposed capacity (MWe) | Potential capacity (MWe) | Government capacity target (MWe) | Additional capacity* required to meet government target (MWe) | Total capacity (MWe) |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| - | - | - | - | - | - | 1000 | 0 | 1000 |
| *Capacity additional to operable, under construction, planned, proposed and potential capacities required to meet the government target. | ||||||||
Readiness Assessment
Ghana has a sustained commitment to introducing nuclear power, an established programme organization, a dedicated regulator and an emerging owner–operator.Preferred sites have been identified and partnerships established for both a large reactor and small modular reactors.
| Country Category | Candidate |
|---|---|
| Policy Framework Readiness | Low-Moderate Durable political commitment, a 1000 MWe objective, owner/operator structure, vendor agreements and site programme are established, but final project and financing decisions remain outstanding |
| Institutional & Infrastructure Readiness | Low-Moderate Independent regulator, nuclear research capability and international training provide a sound base; power reactor licensing and project delivery remain untested. |
| Programme & Project Development Readiness | Low-Moderate Preferred site and two technology/vendor tracks are identifiable, but a funding shortfall has prevented these projects from reaching final contract, financing, or licencing stages. |
| Target Achievability | Low-Moderate Nuclear deployment remains credible, but the target of approximately 1000 MWe by 2034 is unlikely to be met. |