Accra,
Nov. 24,
GhanaDOT/GNA
- Major
Courage
Quashigah
(Rtd),
Minister
of
Health,
on
Monday
tasked
the
Ghana
Atomic
Energy
Commission
(GAEC)
to
involve
the
media in
their
programmes
to allay
fears
associated
with
radioactive
sources.
Major
Quashigah
noted
that
radiation
source
and
ionising
radiation
were
used
throughout
the
world
for
variety
of
purposes.
This, he
said,
included
the
diagnosis
of
diseases,
treatment
of
cancers,
non-destructive
testing
of
materials
and
generation
of
electricity
from
nuclear
power
plants.
Speaking
at the
opening
of a
month-long
regional
workshop
on
Regulatory
Control
of
Radiation
Sources
in Accra
for 15
participants
drawn
from
English
speaking
countries
in
Africa,
the
Minister
charged
the
agency
to
ensure
that
hazards
of
radioactive
sources
were
prevented.
The
countries
are
Ghana,
Sierra
Leone
Tanzania
Mozambique,
Namibia
and
Mauritius.
Major
Quashigah
told the
participants
that to
prevent
the
occurrence
of the
detrimental
effects
of
radiation,
they
were to
ensure
that
threshold
doses
were not
exceeded.
The
Minister
further
entreated
the
participants
to avoid
the
careless
use and
disposal
of
radiation
sources.
“I will
urge you
to
endeavour
to learn
useful
lessons
at the
workshop
so that
on your
return
to your
various
institutions/countries
you
would
assist
to
improve
upon the
handling
of
cases.
“In
particular,
you
should
ensure
that the
systems
for
regulation
and
expansion,
application
and
monitoring
are all
full-proof
as not
to leave
any room
for
carelessness
in your
states.”
Describing
the
workshop
as
timely,
the
Minister
sai8d it
would
enable
member
states
and the
International
Atomic
Energy
Agency (IAEA)
to
acquire
inventory
of
radioactive
sources
and
radiation
emitting
devices
in
participants’
countries
so as to
control
and
manage
their
usage
and
movement.
“This
will
undoubtedly
reduce
threats
caused
by
illicit
trafficking
of
nuclear
and
radioactive
materials.”
He
therefore
requested
IAEA to
assist
African
member
states
to
implement
the
recommendation
of the
workshop
which
was
going to
reflect
on the
role of
regulators,
end
users of
radiation,
control
of
radioactive
sources
which
would
protect
the
environment
and
population
against
nuclear
and
radiological
acts of
terrorism.
Professor
Yaw
Serfor-Armah,
Deputy
Director
General,
GAEC,
said the
workshop
was part
of the
IAEAs
nuclear
security
action
plan
noting
that
since
September
11, 2001
controlling
the use
of
radioactive
sources
had
become
an
emerging
global
issue
particularly
on the
possible
use of
those
materials
in
terrorist
activities.
Prof.
Serfor-Armah
said the
workshop
therefore
sought
to build
competence
and
expertise
needed
by the
national
bodies
to
establish
and
operate
adequate
regulatory
programme
for the
safety
and
security
of
radioactive
sources.
This, he
said,
included
nuclear
medicine,
radiotherapy
and
industrial
radiology.
According
to him
the
coverage
international
standards
for
radiation
protection,
safety
of
radiation
sources,
as well
as the
structure
of legal
framework
which
comprises
of
legislation,
authorisation
and
inspection
would
also be
catered
for
during
the
programme.
GNA
