Ghana has secured Russia’s commitment to work with it on developing a 2,000-megawatt nuclear power plant, opening a new phase in the West African country’s pursuit of nuclear energy while deepening its diplomatic and military relationship with Moscow.
The agreement followed talks between Ghanaian President John Dramani Mahama and Russian President Vladimir Putin on the sidelines of the third Russia-Africa Summit in Moscow on October 30. Ghana’s Foreign Affairs Minister, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, announced the commitments on October 31, describing the proposed facility as a major step towards strengthening national energy security and supporting industrialisation.
The project would represent a substantial addition to Ghana’s electricity generation capacity. Nuclear power can provide continuous, low-carbon electricity, complementing hydropower, thermal generation and renewable sources. For Ghana, whose industrial ambitions depend on reliable and affordable electricity, the proposed plant could help diversify the energy mix and reduce exposure to fluctuations in fuel supply and generation.
However, the announcement does not yet amount to a final construction contract. Neither government has publicly disclosed the project’s cost, financing structure, location or implementation schedule. There is also no confirmed construction start date.
Although Ghana has been preparing for nuclear power development for years, the proposed Russian partnership will still have to progress through technical, regulatory and financial requirements. Ghana’s nuclear ambitions date back to the 1960s, when its first President, Kwame Nkrumah, pursued plans to introduce nuclear energy.
President Mahama recalled the country’s earlier cooperation with the Soviet Union, which supplied a two-megawatt research reactor in 1964 and trained Ghanaian scientists to operate it.
The current programme has advanced considerably, but important decisions remain outstanding. Ghana has identified Nsuban in the Western Region as its preferred site, with Obotan in the Central Region as an alternative. It has also pursued nuclear technology partnerships with China National Nuclear Corporation and US-linked developer Regnum Technology Group, including plans involving a large reactor and small modular reactors.
The World Nuclear Association’s October 2026 assessment noted that Ghana had established a regulatory framework and identified potential technology partners, but funding shortages had delayed detailed site characterisation and environmental studies. It also identified outstanding financing, licensing and project-delivery decisions. This makes the Russian commitment significant, but it does not establish that the proposed 2,000MW facility is ready for construction. Russia is meanwhile expanding its nuclear energy engagement across Africa.
Rosatom, the Russian state nuclear corporation, has said it is discussing large nuclear power projects with Ghana, Uganda, Ethiopia and Egypt. The company is also pursuing discussions on floating nuclear power plants with several African countries, including Tanzania, Togo and Namibia. Egypt’s El Dabaa nuclear power station, which Rosatom is constructing, remains the continent’s largest nuclear project under development.
The Moscow discussions also produced a new defence agreement under which Russia is expected to support the acquisition of strategic military assets for the Ghana Armed Forces. The two governments have not publicly detailed the equipment involved or the financial terms of the arrangement.
Another issue raised by Mahama was the recruitment of Ghanaian nationals into Russia’s war against Ukraine. Following the president’s intervention, Ablakwa said Putin had committed to preventing Ghanaians from participating in the conflict, whether through voluntary enlistment or irregular recruitment. The issue has become a serious concern for Accra.
In February 2026, Ablakwa said information obtained from Ukrainian authorities indicated that approximately 272 Ghanaians were believed to have been drawn into the fighting since 2022. He reported that at least 55 had been killed and two captured.
In August, he put the death toll at 62 and disclosed that 15 other Ghanaians who had travelled to Russia were missing. Russia has denied illegally recruiting African citizens to fight in Ukraine. Beyond nuclear energy and defence, the latest commitments include expanded cooperation in agriculture, particularly grain production and fertiliser supplies, as well as an increase in scholarships for Ghanaian students. The two countries also agreed to revive their Permanent Joint Commission for Cooperation, with Moscow expected to host its next meeting.
For Ghana, the challenge will be turning these diplomatic commitments into projects with clear financing, timelines and measurable benefits. The nuclear proposal, in particular, will require substantial investment, a capable regulatory system, trained personnel, suitable infrastructure and long-term arrangements for nuclear fuel, waste management and plant decommissioning.
The agreement gives Russia a more prominent role in Ghana’s nuclear ambitions, but the project’s eventual delivery will depend on decisions that have yet to be made. For now, the 2,000MW proposal marks a new commitment between Accra and Moscow, rather than the start of construction.
Africa Global News publication.