Ghana Atomic Energy Commission

Review: Improving our knowledge of male mosquito biology in relation to genetic control programmes

Rainfall Variability over Ghana: Model versus Rain Gauge Observation

This paper used the International Centre for Theoretical Physics (ICTP) Regional Climate Model, Version 3 (RegCM3) and rain gauge data selected from the Ghana Meteorological Agency (GMet) from 1990 to 2008 to investigate the extent and nature of variability in the annual rainfall and pattern of the raining seasons in Ghana. In the study, six meteorological stations selected from three rainfall distribution zones according to the divisions of the GMet were used to study the pattern of rainfall and its departure from the normal trend. The study also assessed the performance of the RegCM3 simulation with reference to the observed gauge data. Results confirmed the unimodal nature of the rainfall annual cycle over the northern belt and bi-modal rainfall nature over the middle and southern belts of Ghana. Negative departures of rainfall implying consistent downward trend were observed at all the stations. Our analysis showed that RegCM3 captured the average rainfall over Ghana but demonstrated an underestimation as compared to the observed gauge data. The model also had difficulty stimulating the departures accurately in direction and in magnitude in all the stations except for Accra where RegCM3 simulated the right direction of the departures.

A review of MRI studies in Africa with special focus on quantitative MRI: Historical development, current status and the role of medical physicists

Africa’s readiness for artificial intelligence in clinical radiotherapy delivery: Medical physicists to lead the way

BACKGROUND: There have been several proposals by researchers for the introduction of Artificial Intelligence (AI) technology due to its promising role in radiotherapy practice. However, prior to the introduction of the technology, there are certain general recommendations that must be achieved. Also, the current challenges of AI must be addressed. In this review, we assess how Africa is prepared for the integration of AI technology into radiotherapy service delivery. METHODS: To assess the readiness of Africa for integration of AI in radiotherapy services delivery, a narrative review of the available literature from PubMed, Science Direct, Google Scholar, and Scopus was conducted in the English language using search terms such as Artificial Intelligence, Radiotherapy in Africa, Machine Learning, Deep Learning, and Quality Assurance. RESULTS: We identified a number of issues that could limit the successful integration of AI technology into radiotherapy practice. The major issues include insufficient data for training and validation of AI models, lack of educational curriculum for AI radiotherapy-related courses, no/limited AI teaching professionals, funding, and lack of AI technology and resources. Solutions identified to facilitate smooth implementation of the technology into radiotherapy practices within the region include: creating an accessible national data bank, integrating AI radiotherapy training programs into Africa's educational curriculum, investing in AI technology and resources such as electronic health records and cloud storage, and creation of legal laws and policies to support the use of the technology. These identified solutions need to be implemented on the background of creating awareness among health workers within the radiotherapy space. CONCLUSION: The challenges identified in this review are common among all the geographical regions in the African continent. Therefore, all institutions offering radiotherapy education and training programs, management of the medical centers for radiotherapy and oncology, national and regional professional bodies for medical physics, ministries of health, governments, and relevant stakeholders must take keen interest and work together to achieve this goal.

DETERMINISTIC SEISMIC GROUND MOTION MODELLING OF THE GREATER ACCRA METROPOLITAN AREA, SOUTHEASTERN GHANA

Research Article| December 01, 2009 DETERMINISTIC SEISMIC GROUND MOTION MODELLING OF THE GREATER ACCRA METROPOLITAN AREA, SOUTHEASTERN GHANA P.E. AMPONSAH; P.E. AMPONSAH Geological Survey Department, Accra, Ghana, e-mail: pekua2@yahoo.com Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar B.K. BANOENG-YAKUBO; B.K. BANOENG-YAKUBO Geology Department, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana, e-mail: bbruce@ug.edu.gh Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar G.F. PANZA; G.F. PANZA Department of Earth Sciences, University of Trieste, Italy, The Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics- ESP SAND group, Trieste, Italy, e-mail: panza@dst.units.it Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar F. VACCARI F. VACCARI Department of Earth Sciences, University of Trieste, Italy, e-mail: vaccari@dst.units.it Search for other works by this author on: GSW Google Scholar Author and Article Information P.E. AMPONSAH Geological Survey Department, Accra, Ghana, e-mail: pekua2@yahoo.com B.K. BANOENG-YAKUBO Geology Department, University of Ghana, Legon, Ghana, e-mail: bbruce@ug.edu.gh G.F. PANZA Department of Earth Sciences, University of Trieste, Italy, The Abdus Salam International Centre for Theoretical Physics- ESP SAND group, Trieste, Italy, e-mail: panza@dst.units.it F. VACCARI Department of Earth Sciences, University of Trieste, Italy, e-mail: vaccari@dst.units.it Publisher: Geological Society of South Africa First Online: 09 Mar 2017 Online ISSN: 1996-8590 Print ISSN: 1012-0750 © 2009 Geological Society of South Africa South African Journal of Geology (2009) 112 (3-4): 317–328. https://doi.org/10.2113/gssajg.112.3-4.317 Article history First Online: 09 Mar 2017 Cite View This Citation Add to Citation Manager Share Icon Share Facebook Twitter LinkedIn MailTo Tools Icon Tools Get Permissions Search Site Citation P.E. AMPONSAH, B.K. BANOENG-YAKUBO, G.F. PANZA, F. VACCARI; DETERMINISTIC SEISMIC GROUND MOTION MODELLING OF THE GREATER ACCRA METROPOLITAN AREA, SOUTHEASTERN GHANA. South African Journal of Geology 2009;; 112 (3-4): 317–328. doi: https://doi.org/10.2113/gssajg.112.3-4.317 Download citation file: Ris (Zotero) Refmanager EasyBib Bookends Mendeley Papers EndNote RefWorks BibTex toolbar search Search Dropdown Menu toolbar search search input Search input auto suggest filter your search All ContentBy SocietySouth African Journal of Geology Search Advanced Search Abstract The seismic ground motion of the greater Accra Metropolitan Area has been modelled for land use planning and disaster mitigation. The deterministic computation, a hybrid method based on the modal summation and finite difference method was used. Using these techniques, the seismic ground motion along four profiles located in the metropolis has been computed. The 1939 earthquake of magnitude 6.5 (ML ) was used as the scenario earthquake. Synthetic seismic waveforms from which parameters for engineering design such as peak ground acceleration, velocity and spectral amplifications have been produced along the geological cross sections. The peak ground acceleration and velocity computed for the metropolis ranges from 0.14 g to 0.57 g and 9.2 cms−1 to 37.1 cms−1, respectively. These correspond to intensity ranging from VII to IX on the Modified Mercalli Intensity scale. Areas in the metropolis underlain by unconsolidated sediments experience the largest shakings. The results illustrated represent a useful guide for civil engineers in the design of buildings in the metropolis for safe and sustainable development. You do not have access to this content, please speak to your institutional administrator if you feel you should have access.

Atmospheric dispersion modeling and radiological safety analysis for a hypothetical accident of Ghana Research Reactor-1 (GHARR-1)

Radiological Safety Analysis for a Hypothetical Accident of a Generic VVER-1000 Nuclear Power Plant

Atmospheric dispersion modelling and radiological safety analysis have been performed for a postulated accident scenario of a generic VVER-1000 nuclear power plant using the HotSpot Health Physics code. The total effective dose equivalent (TEDE), the respiratory time-integrated air concentration, and the ground deposition concentration are calculated considering site-specific meteorological conditions. The results show that the maximum TEDE and ground deposition concentration values of 3.69 E – 01 Sv and 3.80 E + 06 kBq/m 2 occurred at downwind distance of 0.18 km from the release point. This maximum TEDE value is recorded within a distance where public occupation is restricted. The TEDE values at distances of 5.0 km and beyond where public occupation is likely to be found are far below the annual regulatory limits of 1 mSv from public exposure in a year even in the event of worse accident scenario as set in IAEA Safety Standard No. GSR Part 3; no action related specifically to the public exposure is required. The released radionuclides might be transported to long distances but will not have any harmful effect on the public. The direction of the radionuclide emission from the release point is towards the north east. It is observed that the organ with the highest value of committed effective dose equivalent (CEDE) appears to be the thyroid. It was followed by the bone surface, lung, red marrow, and lower large intestine wall in order of decreasing CEDE value. Radionuclides including I-131, I-133, Sr-89, Cs-134, Ba-140, Xe-133, and Xe-135 were found to be the main contributors to the CEDE.

Medical physics practice and training in Ghana

Establishing a global medical physics graduate clinical training and development program in Ghana: A model for global health international education and collaboration

PURPOSE: The Global Medical Physics Training and Development Program (GMPTDP) is a novel initiative that provides United States (US)-based graduate students in medical physics with structured, immersive clinical training in Ghana. METHODS: The five-week program begins with a cultural and clinical orientation in the US, followed by 4 weeks of clinical rotations across leading Ghanaian medical institutions. During rotations, students gain experience with teletherapy (LINACs and cobalt-60), brachytherapy, treatment planning, imaging, and more. Trainees participate in clinical activities, conduct collaborative projects, and engage in community outreach and cultural immersion. The program culminates in a symposium highlighting student experiences and future directions with speakers including physicists, oncologists, engineers, and policymakers. RESULTS: The pilot year of the program was successfully completed by three students from May 28 2024-July 2 2024. This article outlines the development, structure, and implementation of GMPTDP as a replicable model for global health training in medical physics, emphasizing sustainable partnerships between high-income and low- and middle-income countries. Educational objectives include demonstrating effective cross-border training models, fostering collaborative research, and expanding global clinical experience in the field of medical physics. CONCLUSIONS: A model for a global medical physics training program was developed and successfully implemented.

Physics audit of selected diagnostic X-Ray machines in Ghana: towards implementation of a national dosimetry audit programme

The changing face of women in physics in Ghana

Ghana is said to be the first independent sub-Saharan African country outside South Africa to promote science education and the application of science in industrial and social development. It has long been recognized that many schools' science curricula extend the extracurricular activities of boys more than those of girls. In order to bridge this gap, efforts have been made to give girls extra assistance in the learning of science by exposing them to science activities through specific camps, road shows, exhibitions, and so on. The best known of such efforts is the Science, Technology, and Mathematics Education (STME) camps and clinics for girls, which started in Ghana 23 years ago. Since our attendance at the Third International Conference on Women in Physics in Seoul, Korea, a lot has been achieved to further improve female science education, and this credit goes to STME. The first female nuclear engineer from Ghana graduated from the University of Ghana in March 2010.

Twenty years of medical physics education and training in Ghana: past, current, and future perspectives

Women in physics in Ghana: Our story

The status of women physicists in academia and industry has improved over the last decade in Ghana but not without challenges. It will take some time before women are well represented, especially at the professorial level. Organizations such as the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission (GAEC) and the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences (GAAS) are striving hard to minimize professional gaps between women and men. The Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences, through its efforts to encourage women in physics and science in general has elected its second woman in 58 years as president, and GAEC is also encouraging and appointing women to managerial positions.

Medical physics audit of radiotherapy centres in Ghana