Ghana has launched a comprehensive policy for the utilization of space science technology to drive national development.
The Ghana Space Policy will pave the way for establishing the Ghana Space Agency to coordinate the development of human capital, infrastructure, and the overall growth of the space science sector.
Mrs. Ophelia Hayford, Minister of Environment, Science, Technology, and Innovation (MESTI), launched the policy at a ceremony in Accra on Tuesday.
Cabinet approved the Ghana Space Policy in March 2022.
Ghana has been employing space technologies in critical areas such as environmental monitoring, security, precision agriculture, navigation, weather forecasting, disaster management, and telecommunications.
Mrs. Hayford said the policy would ensure that the deployment and usage of space technology are coordinated, regulated, standardized, and sustainably managed.
She added that the Ministry would collaborate with relevant ministries and the private sector to ensure the successful implementation of the policy.
“Let us leverage it (the policy) to promote sustainable practices, drive technological advancement, foster international cooperation, and contribute significantly to the growth of space science in Ghana and across Africa,” the Minister said.
In 2011, Ghana signed the African Square Kilometre Array (SKA) partnership agreement with South Africa and seven other African countries to develop the world’s largest radio telescope network to explore the universe and conduct leading-edge research.
Dr. Joseph Bremang Tandoh, Director of the Ghana Space Science and Technology Institute, said investments in Ghana’s space program were necessary to support agriculture, infrastructure, and economic growth.
“Space technology can help us manage resources, track agricultural health, and mitigate climate change,” he said.
“With this policy, we are not just joining the space race but creating opportunities for economic growth, job creation, and technological advancement,” Dr. Tandoh added.
Dr. Kofi Asare, Manager of the Remote Sensing and Climate Sector, said the country could utilize space technology to effectively manage its land and water resources to reduce destruction.
In agriculture, he noted that satellite technology could help monitor crop health, soil conditions, weather patterns, and crop yield prediction and estimation.
Professor Elvis Asare-Bediako, Vice-Chancellor of the University of Energy and Natural Resources (UENR), said the University was working towards establishing undergraduate and postgraduate programs to train students in space technology.
“We are ready and equipped with expertise to partner with the government to push the exploration of space technology to its appropriate height,” he said.
