Sealed Radium Sources Conditioning Operation in Ghana

Most African countries have been using radiation emitting devices and radioactive sources for the past three decades or more for the promotion, development, and utilization of the peaceful application of nuclear techniques fo r the benefit of their countries. Most of these sealed radiation sources have deteriorated to such a state that they are leaking and their current storage situation does not meet the necessary norms for safety. This is due to the fact that most of the countries don't have radiation protection and waste management infrastructures. To this effect the Organization of African Unit (OAU) through the African Regional Co-operative Agreement (AFRA) have strongly endorsed the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) awareness of the need to promote well defined levels of radiation protection and waste management especially in the handling and storage of spent radioactive sources. Since most countries lack facilities and trained personnel, a specialised team from South Africa has been established to encapsulate, condition and store all sources on the continent, thus clearing the continent of all dangerously neglected sources. This paper presents an overview on the first mission operation carried out in Ghana by the team from South Africa together with the assistance of Ghanaian experts in encapsulating and conditioning of a total of 190mg of spent sealed radium sources.