Ghana launches space policy to propel development

In a significant step towards harnessing modern technology for accelerated development, the country has officially launched a Space Policy to leverage space science and technology (SST) for socio-economic transformation. 

The policy, spearheaded by the Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation (MESTI), is set to coordinate the development and use of SST to drive sustainable growth across various sectors, including natural resource management, disaster response, climate monitoring, and the management of air and water quality.

It aims at transforming the country’s economy by promoting science and technology as key engines of growth.

It also sets the stage for the promotion of innovation, commercialisation of space technology, and active citizens’ participation in space science.

Relevance

Unveiling the policy in Accra, the Minister of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, Ophelia Mensah-Hayford, said technology had become an essential part of daily life through applications in telecommunications, transportation, aviation, satellite television and the internet.

She said the policy would provide a strategic framework to ensure that those applications were not only beneficial but also regulated, standardised and sustainably managed.

The minister said the government would invest resources to support the transition of the Ghana Space Science and Technology Institute (GSSTI) into the Ghana Space Agency.

“We recognise the importance of collaboration and remain eager to work with countries and institutions both locally and internationally that are leading in space exploration. I am proud to acknowledge that GSSTI has ongoing partnerships with South Africa, the UK, China, Italy, the USA and other space leaders.

“These collaborations cover key areas such as research, capacity building, satellite development, space education and outreach,” Ms Mensah-Hayford said.

She urged all stakeholders to embrace the policy and support its implementation.

“Let us leverage this policy to drive sustainable practices, foster technological advancements, encourage international partnerships and contribute meaningfully to the growth of space science in the country and throughout Africa,” the minister said.

Space technology

The Director of Science, Technology and Innovation (ST&I) at MESTI, Kwamena Essilfie Quaison, said the policy symbolised the country’s commitment to being an active participant in the global space community, determined to leverage space technology for national progress.

Since 2017, he said groundwork was done for the policy through unprecedented collaboration and strategic planning.

The director said space technology was not a luxury but an essential part of infrastructure as it played a vital role in enhancing agricultural productivity, bolstering national security, monitoring the environment and managing natural disasters.

The new policy, he said, provided a clear framework for establishing the Ghana Space Agency, which would steer the country’s entry into this new technological frontier.