The United States has donated advanced radiation detection equipment to Ghana’s Nuclear Regulatory Authority (NRA) as part of ongoing efforts to strengthen the country’s nuclear safeguards program and align it with international standards.

U.S. Chargé d’Affaires a.i Rolf Olson met with senior officials at the NRA to officially hand over the HM-5 identiFINDER, a state-of-the-art detection device valued at 270,000 Ghanaian cedis (approximately $26,000 USD). The equipment will enhance Ghana’s ability to detect, locate, and identify radioactive and nuclear materials, boosting compliance with International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) safeguards and reporting requirements.

This donation is the latest example of U.S. support for Ghana’s peaceful nuclear energy ambitions. Earlier this year, through the Foundational Infrastructure for Responsible Use of Small Modular Reactor Technology (FIRST) Program, the United States funded the creation of the E2 Center at the School of Nuclear and Allied Sciences. The center features a NuScale Power small modular reactor (SMR) digital control room simulator, supporting hands-on training and workforce development.

The FIRST program has also facilitated study tours to the U.S. and Japan for Ghanaian nuclear engineers and forged academic partnerships with Texas A&M University to help develop SMR-related curricula in Ghanaian institutions.

For over a decade, the U.S. Department of Energy’s National Nuclear Security Administration (DOE/NNSA) has worked with the NRA to advance Ghana’s implementation of IAEA safeguards. Through its International Nuclear Safeguards Engagement Program (INSEP), DOE/NNSA has helped strengthen Ghana’s nuclear legal framework, trained experts in nuclear material measurement, and supported the development of sustainable safeguards infrastructure.

These efforts underscore the shared commitment of both nations to the peaceful and secure use of nuclear technology under the Treaty on the Non-Proliferation of Nuclear Weapons (NPT).