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GAEC and CEPS sign MOU to combat nuclear and radioactive
security threats
Accra, Feb. 26, Ghanadot/GNA - Ghana on
Tuesday moved a notch higher in its stance to combat nuclear
and radioactive security matters, as the Customs, Excise and
Preventive Service (CEPS) and the Ghana Atomic Energy
Commission (GAEC) signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MOU)
to counter the complexity and ingenuity of the threat.
The MOU, among other things, states the roles and
responsibilities of the Radiation Protection Board of the
GAEC and CEPS in relation to the import and export of
radiation sources and to establish clear working guidelines
on the actions to be taken by the respective parties to
ensure protection against radiation and safety and security
of radiation sources.
Incidents around the world, particularly terrorism, have
highlighted the potential for significant health and
security concerns, should high activity radioactive
materials be improperly transported, stored, handled or
used.
Initialled by the CEPS Commissioner, Mr Emmanuel Doku and
the Director-General of GAEC Prof. Edward Akaho at the CEPS
headquarters in Accra, the MOU mandates CEPS not to permit
the importation and exportation of any radiation source
unless persons to whom such source is consigned produces
authorization to import or exports issued by the Radiation
Protection Board.
The signing ceremony culminated in the GAEC handing over to
CEPS, 20 PRD RadEye Alarming Personal Radiation Detectors to
be used by CEPS personnel who may be engaged in matters
relating to radioactive materials and nuclear security at
the country’s entry points.
The gadgets would enable personnel to detect attempts by
persons to smuggle radioactive substances into the country
and to detect contaminated foodstuffs and other materials
before release to the public.
Additionally, the radiation detectors would be effective in
protecting the population and the environment against
nuclear and radiological acts of terrorism, and the national
and regional strategies for nuclear security.
Prof. Akaho noted that recent events worldwide had prompted
the International Atomic Energy Agency and member states
alike to act swiftly by coordinating the response of the
international community to threats caused by illicit
trafficking of nuclear and radio active materials.
He said as a result, physical protection and security of
nuclear materials and radioactive sources had gained new
dimensions and surfaced as one of the most important issues
requiring enhanced international cooperation and closer
regional coordination.
Prof. Akaho expressed optimism that the MOU and the
radiation detectors would help in raising the standard of
security, improve control of nuclear and radioactive
materials, upgrade border monitoring, improve detection,
identification and response to incidents involving nuclear
and radioactive materials at the entry points.
Acknowledging that quantity of the gadgets made available to
CEPS was inadequate for the job at hand, he gave the
assurance that, when the GAEC received new supplies from the
IAEA, more of the detectors would be given CEPS.
Mr Doku said Ghana was moving in the right direction by the
signing of the MOU and expressed appreciation for the
equipment, saying, “It would go a long way to enhance
Ghana’s security stance”.
GNA
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