Also in February, Ghana participated in the Joint Review of Nuclear Law and Safeguards-Related Regulations, held at IAEA headquarters in Vienna, Austria. With support from the United States Department of Energy, National Nuclear Security Administration's (DOE/NNSA's) International Nuclear Safeguards Engagement Program, IAEA experts met with the Ghanian Nuclear Regulatory Authority (NRA), the Ghanian Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, and the Office of the Attorney General of Ghana, and undertook a detailed review of three documents: the NRA Act, draft safeguards regulations and draft safeguards guidance. Together, these documents shape the country's national legal and regulatory framework for safeguards implementation.

"This workshop came at a timely moment for us", said Emmanuel Ampomah-Amoako, Director of Nuclear Installations, NRA. "We are finalizing three legal documents, and the insights from IAEA experts helped us understand how to best implement the amendments in a way that aligns with our international safeguards obligations. Thanks to this joint effort, we now have the clarity and confidence needed to move forward with the approval process."

These efforts were further highlighted at a side event during the 69^th IAEA General Conference in September. Stakeholders from Cameroon, Ghana and the United States of America provided testimonials on the value of peer-to-peer support in strengthening recipient States' legal and regulatory frameworks. During the side event, Director General Grossi emphasized the importance of continuing this initiative to provide COMPASS States with tailored support designed to help them meet their safeguards obligations.

"The performance of a country's SSAC and SRA are key factors in facilitating the work of IAEA safeguards inspectors", said Igor Tsvetkov, an operations Section Head within the IAEA Department of Safeguards. "By applying the tools and advice that the IAEA and partner States provide recipients through COMPASS, we can ensure effective and efficient safeguards implementation together."

After a successful pilot phase, the IAEA is currently finalizing the First cycle of COMPASS (2024 - 2026) with four countries: Bangladesh, Bolivia (Plurinational State of), Cameroon and Ghana. Find out more about COMPASS here.