Ghana says Russia to back 2,000MW nuclear plant, deepen ties

Russia has agreed to work with Ghana on developing a 2,000-megawatt nuclear power plant following talks at the Russia-Africa Summit, Ghanaian Foreign Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa said on Saturday.

The project is aimed at strengthening energy security and industrialisation, Ablakwa said in a statement on X.

The announcement came a day after Russia’s state nuclear corporation, Rosatom, said it was in talks with four African countries, including Ghana, on large-scale nuclear power projects.

First held in 2019, the Russia-Africa Summit is part of Moscow’s efforts to deepen economic ties with African countries through cooperation in the energy sector.

The two countries also agreed to strengthen defence ties through a new pact covering assets for Ghana’s military.

Ablakwa said Russian President Vladimir Putin had barred the participation of Ghanaians in Russia’s war in Ukraine, including through irregular recruitment or voluntary enlistment.

Other commitments included support for Ghana’s agricultural sector and an increase in scholarship opportunities for Ghanaian students in Russia.

Credit: Reuters