That time the government made a decision to initiate Kwabenya Nuclear Reactor Project with of view of introducing nuclear science and technologies into the??country, and to exploit nuclear energy in its peaceful applications for the solution of problems of national development.

Today Ghana has a strong base from which it is able to develop its nuclear programme. The country has been an International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Member State since 1960 and recently signed its fourth Country Programme Framework for Cooperation Agreement with the IAEA for the period of 2017-2022 under the IAEA programme of technical cooperation.

This cooperation envisages development of such key ambits as food and agriculture, human health and nutrition, water resources and environment. Indeed, global practice demonstrates that nuclear technology offers many beneficial applications beyond just providing sustainable, clean and affordable electricity to the national grid and is widely used for medicine, science and even space programmes.

Role of nuclear technologies in medicine is substantial. The broad range of applications of nuclear technologies in medicine is hugely impressive and save countless lives every day. For instance nuclear medicine can be used to examine diverse conditions such as; blood flow to the brain, functioning of the liver, lungs, heart or kidneys, to assess bone growth, and to confirm results gained from other diagnostic procedures.

Diagnostic procedures using radioisotopes have become common practice around the world. Over 10,000 hospitals worldwide use radioisotopes in medicine, and about 90% of the procedures are for diagnosis.

Radiation therapy contributes to 40% of all cancer cures world-wide as well as relieving symptoms, such as pain, and improving the quality of life for many others.

Sadly, Ghana has very high cancer rates among population. Each year more than 16??000 new cases are diagnosed, including 1600 among children, according to Ghana Health Service specialists.

Today Ghana is fortunate to be among the few African countries, equipped with radiotherapy facilities. However, what is lacking is experienced trained professionals and modern equipment to treat cancer.

Actually the country has three installed radiation therapy machines which include two conventional simulators in the two national treatment centers and a private treatment facility in the capital, equipped with linear accelerator.

These facilities provide a comprehensive service, treating over 1200 patients a year. Previously, Ghanaians had to travel to India, the Americas and Europe to access care and not many patients could afford this.

Dr Naa Aryeetey, who is an oncologist at the National Centre for Radiotherapy and Nuclear Medicine, said the center has been seeing more than 1200 new cases per year, with breast cancer being the commonest.

Radiotherapy and special radiopharmaceuticals are key components of nuclear medicine, however their use requires specialized personnel training and equipment handling.

Dr Efua Commeh from the Non-Communicable Disease (NCD) Programme argued that about 70% of cancer deaths in Ghana can be prevented at the early detection stage, due to proper screening.

Nevertheless, for a country with population of nearly 30 million three radiotherapy facilities are not enough. The current estimated therapy unit deficit is 19 local centers.

Today Ghana is making significant progress in specialist personal training with the assistance of the IAEA and its Member States.

The IAEA role was instrumental in the initial set up of radiotherapy centers in Ghana and continues to be supportive with supplemental training of personnel. Ghana also serves as resource for training and capacity building for other African countries.

Ghana developed locally accredited graduate and post-graduate training programmes for radiation oncologists, medical physicists, radiotherapy technicians and nurses through the colleges of physicians and surgeons, nursing and the University of Ghana Allied Health and Nuclear Sciences Division.

The establishment Ghana's research reactor made it possible for the country to open a radiotherapy centre in collaboration with the IAEA. With the help of the radioisotope production facility the radiotherapy center has proven to be highly effective not only for Ghanaian citizens, but also for cancer patients from neighboring countries.Currently, the Accra hospital prides itself on its ability to attract a numerous patients from neighboring countries such as Burkina Faso, Nigeria and Togo because of its expertise in radiotherapy services and nuclear medicine, among others.

Further modernization of the research facility and the construction of a new Center of Nuclear Science and Technology with the help of international partners will certainly have a positive effect for Ghana's social and economic development.