Ghana seeks civil nuclear cooperation with India

ACCRA: Ghana today sought India's cooperation in civil nuclear energy in an attempt to harness clean and sustainable energy to shift its energy mix which is at present focused on traditional energy sources.

The issue came up for discussion during the talks between President Pranab Mukherjee and his Ghanaian counterpart John Dramani Mahama today.

After the talks, the two sides signed three MoUs including the waiver of visa for diplomatic and official passports, establishment of a joint commission to periodically monitor various aspects of multidimensional relationship, and helping in training of Ghanaian Foreign services.

"In the new areas, it came for the first time...Ghanian President specifically mentioned that since India is leader in nuclear energy they want to look at having a civil nuclear cooperation with India," Secretary (Economic Relations) Amar Sinha said.

The two sides discussed new model of doing business on how to go beyond government to government and lines of credit modes of investment.

"They said they would want to cooperate with India to see if they can also use the nuclear energy route. They will examine what are the possibilities, what human and national resources are required," Sinha said.

They said it will be evaluated, discussed and then anything can be said on how to move ahead on the issue.

"They are signatory to COP 21 (Paris Climate deal) and want to move towards clean energy as present energy mix is based on fossil fuels," Press Secretary to President Venu Rajamony said.