President John Dramani Mahama has revealed that Ghana is considering alternative energy sources, including nuclear power, to support its industrialisation drive, noting that processing the country’s mineral resources requires significantly more electricity than the current energy mix can provide. The President made the disclosure on Tuesday, October 27, 2026, during an interactive session with students of the Russian University of Transport in Moscow, ahead of a ceremony at which he was awarded an honorary doctorate.
The dialogue provided an opportunity for students to engage the President on issues including industrialisation, energy security and prospects for strengthening cooperation between Ghana and Russia. Responding to a question about his vision for Ghana, President Mahama said his administration was focused on translating improvements in the country’s macroeconomic performance into meaningful economic opportunities, particularly for young people.
“My dream is to translate the macroeconomic success into jobs and opportunities for the young people. How we set the stage for the country to industrialise. That’s my dream,” he said. Although the President has consistently cited declining inflation and a recovering currency as signs of economic stabilisation, he has stressed that these improvements must translate into tangible benefits for ordinary Ghanaians, especially through job creation and expanded employment opportunities.
On energy, President Mahama said Ghana was exploring alternatives to its conventional power sources, including nuclear energy, to meet the country’s growing electricity needs. “We are looking at alternative energy sources. That is why we are looking at nuclear, adding nuclear energy to the mix. I know that Russia has advanced technology in some of these things, so we will work with that,” he stated.
The remarks point to a potential new area of cooperation between Ghana and Russia, particularly in nuclear energy, where Russia’s state-owned nuclear corporation is a major global player in the construction of nuclear power plants. Ahead of the Third Russia–Africa Summit, which opens on Wednesday, October 28, President Mahama expressed hope that his planned bilateral meeting with Russian President Vladimir Putin would pave the way for expanded collaboration between the two countries.
“I believe that meeting will open new areas of cooperation. I am sure that after the meeting, it will draw us closer in terms of investments,” he said. President Mahama arrived in Moscow on Monday and has used the visit to advocate for a ceasefire in the Russia–Ukraine war while pursuing stronger bilateral ties in key sectors, including education, transport and energy.
Ghana has considered nuclear power for several years, with successive administrations undertaking feasibility studies and assessing potential sites. However, the country has yet to construct a nuclear power plant. Its electricity supply continues to rely primarily on hydroelectric and thermal generation, while solar power accounts for a relatively small share of the energy mix.
The President’s comments in Moscow suggest that Ghana could be considering Russia as a potential partner for nuclear technology and financing. Such a partnership could have significant implications for the country’s long-term energy security, as well as its broader economic and geopolitical relations.
