GHANA TO EXPLORE SPACE SCIENCE AND TECHNOLOGY FOR SUSTAINABLE DEVELOPMENT

Cabinet has approved a national space policy that will provide a framework for the use of space science and technology for sustainable development.

In line with that, the policy will coordinate how ministries, departments and agencies (MDAs) access and consume space data.
The Minister of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation (MESTI), Dr Kwaku Afriyie, who made this known at a “Meet the Press” series in Accra yesterday, said the approval of the policy was a key milestone in the nation’s development trajectory.

“Currently, there is no coordination in the way MDAs access data from entities which provide space data, and we do not even consider value for money,” he said.

Dr Afriyie added that as part of measures to leverage space technology, MESTI was currently working with relevant ministries and the private sector to transform the Ghana Space Science and Technology Institute (GSSTI) into a space agency to coordinate the growth of human capital, infrastructure and space science.
The minister said that although the government had frozen the establishment of agencies because of the financial burden involved, it was important to consider space agency as a special case.
“I am pleading for exemption for us to establish the space agency because the GSSTI has the needed infrastructure, so there will be zero financial burden on the government.
If we do not do it, the country will rather incur losses,” he said.

The minister further said that his outfit had under the Ghana-Korea K-Innovation Partnership Programme, unveiled a 10-year master plan to enhance the commercialisation of research and innovation.

“The enactment of the bill into law will significantly address emerging environmental issues facing the country,” the minister added.

Focus areas
Dr Afriyie said the ministry was also focusing on circularity and circular economy, climate mitigation and adaptation; nature and ecosystem-based approaches and sustainable development.
“We are committed to combating climate change through both mitigation and adaptation strategies, including promoting clean and renewable energy sources, advocating energy efficiency and developing climate-resilient infrastructure to safeguard our nation from climate-related threats,” he said.