On November 5, 2024, Ghana officially launched its National Space Policy, memorialising a significant milestone in its growing space sector. The policy aims to harness the power of space technology and leverage it to propel economic growth, enhance national security, and ensure sustainable development. With space technology already being used across various sectors such as agriculture, health, transportation, energy, and security, the policy seeks to strengthen coordination between governmental agencies and the private sector and optimise space-related activities for the country’s development.
The Need for a National Space Policy
In recent years, Ghana has increasingly recognised the critical role space science and technology (SST) plays in addressing complex challenges and improving various sectors of its economy. However, despite utilising space technology in many areas, the country faced fragmented efforts in coordinating and accessing space data from multiple entities. This fragmentation, coupled with inefficiencies and limited collaboration between different ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs), underscored the need for a comprehensive space policy.
The Minister for Environment, Science, Technology, and Innovation (MESTI), Hon. Ophelia Mensah Hayford, emphasised that the new policy would address these gaps, ensuring that space technology usage is well-coordinated, standardised, regulated, and sustainably managed. Thus, the policy envisions Ghana not only as a consumer of space technology but also as a contributor to the global space community by promoting collaboration across sectors and encouraging innovation.
Dr Joseph Bremang Tandoh, Director of the Ghana Space Science and Technology Institute (GSSTI), highlighted that space technology could help monitor and manage resources, track agricultural health, and provide vital insights for climate change adaptation.
He emphasised that the policy would allow Ghana to use its growing space capabilities for meaningful applications that support economic growth and job creation while positioning the nation as a contributor to the African space ecosystem.
Key Goals and Objectives of the Policy
The Ghana Space Policy aligns with the country’s broader national development objectives, particularly within the Coordinated Programmes for Social and Economic Policies (2017-2024). The policy focuses on integrating space science and technology (SST) into critical areas such as resource management, climate monitoring, agricultural development, and infrastructure planning. This would support the nation’s pursuit of sustainable economic, social, and environmental development.
One of the policy’s central goals is to improve Ghana’s ability to manage the biophysical environment effectively. This aligns with the country’s broader development agenda, which seeks to transform the economy by effectively applying science, technology, and innovation. By coordinating and promoting space-based technologies across different sectors, the policy aims to enhance the country’s capacity to address challenges like climate change, food security, and resource management.
The policy also seeks to position Ghana as an active player in the global space community. By fostering international cooperation, the country hopes to improve its human capital development, knowledge exchange, and infrastructure investments in space technology. Ghana’s participation in space science research and technological advancements is expected to open new avenues for investment, including through public-private partnerships (PPPs).
Generating Employment and Revenue
Beyond its application in various sectors, the Ghana Space Policy envisions the creation of sustainable revenue streams and job opportunities across the space industry. These opportunities will span multiple thematic areas, including satellite communications (satcom), Earth observation (EO), global navigation satellite systems (GNSS), astronomy, and space component manufacturing.
One key objective is to stimulate job creation in the technical areas and related fields such as space education, consulting services, regulatory support, and business development. Space tourism, satellite data services, and satellite manufacturing are potential revenue-generating areas. These activities are expected to generate spin-off industries that further contribute to the country’s economy.
Strategies for Implementation
The successful implementation of the Ghana Space Policy will rely on several key strategies. Central to these strategies is the restructuring of the Ghana Space Science and Technology Institute (GSSTI) into a fully functional national space agency—the Ghana Space Agency (GSA). This transformation will empower the agency to oversee space-related activities, including coordination, regulation, licensing, research, and development. The GSA will be pivotal in integrating space technologies into Ghana’s development agenda, ensuring that space-related activities contribute to national prosperity and security.
Additionally, the policy emphasises the importance of human capital development. Ghana plans to invest in educational programs from the grassroots level, encouraging students to pursue science, technology, engineering, and mathematics (STEM) fields, particularly space science. The policy outlines plans to integrate space science into basic and senior high school curricula, fostering interest and understanding among young people. University students will also benefit from practical training, internships, and mentorship programs that connect them with industry experts.
Infrastructure development is critical to the policy’s success. Establishing new ground stations and mission control centres is also central to the policy’s goals. These facilities will serve as satellite operations’ command and control centres, ensuring adequate data collection and management. Additionally, Ghana plans to promote the creation of local manufacturing facilities for space-qualified components, which will reduce dependency on external sources and build the country’s space capabilities.
Public-Private Partnerships and Incentives for the Space Sector
The Ghana Space Policy also outlines strategies to encourage private sector engagement in the space industry. The government plans to incentivise private companies involved in space-related activities, such as manufacturing space products and providing space-based services. This would foster a thriving commercial space sector that can contribute to the country’s economic development while meeting domestic and international demands for space services.
Ghana aims to establish a robust space economy by supporting space startups, promoting space-based product development, and creating a favourable business environment. The policy identifies satellite data and imagery services, satellite communications, and space technology development as key sectors for commercial growth. The government also intends to provide targeted incentives to local companies, helping them establish a competitive edge in the global space market.
Strengthening Space Law and Regulations
Ghana is committed to improving its space-related legal and regulatory frameworks as part of its strategy to develop a sustainable space sector. The policy emphasises the need for comprehensive laws to govern space activities, ensuring ground-based and space-based operations are conducted responsibly and safely. To this end, Ghana is working on ratifying international treaties, including the Outer Space Treaty, the Rescue Agreement, the Liability Convention, and the Moon Agreement. By aligning its laws with international standards, Ghana aims to create a favourable environment for space activities while minimising these operations’ environmental and societal impacts.
Promoting Space Awareness and Public Engagement
The Ghana Space Policy includes provisions for public outreach and education to ensure that the public understands and appreciates the benefits of space technology. The Ghana Space Agency will establish a dedicated unit responsible for engaging with citizens at all levels. This unit will organise advocacy programs in schools, communities, and on national platforms to raise awareness about the importance of space technology and its applications.
Similarly, these programmes will aim to foster a national space culture, encouraging citizens to appreciate the value of space technologies in everyday life. The policy also includes plans to organise space-related events, such as science fairs and public lectures, to further engage the public and inspire the next generation of space scientists and engineers.
Monitoring, Evaluation and Funding
The policy includes a robust monitoring and evaluation framework to track the progress of space activities and ensure that they align with national development goals. The government will regularly assess the impact of space technologies on various sectors and make necessary adjustments to ensure that the policy’s objectives are being met.
Furthermore, the policy outlines funding models to sustain and expand space initiatives, including government funding and attracting private investments. By maintaining financial accountability and oversight, the policy aims to ensure the longevity of Ghana’s space sector and its continued positive impact on national development.
Conclusion
The launch of Ghana’s National Space Policy is critical in the country’s journey toward becoming a space technology and innovation leader. By establishing a clear framework for space activities and fostering collaboration between the government, private sector, and international partners, Ghana is positioning itself to harness the full potential of space science and technology. The policy’s focus on human capital development, infrastructure, legal frameworks, and public-private partnerships will ensure that Ghana contributes to global space efforts and reaps space technology’s economic and social benefits for future generations.
As Hon. Ophelia Mensah Hayford noted, the policy will promote sustainable practices and technological advancement and enable Ghana to contribute meaningfully to the broader African space ecosystem. This step positions Ghana to harness the power of space technology for national development fully and to create a future where space science is integral to achieving economic and social progress.
Source: https://spaceinafrica.com/2024/11/06/ghana-launches-national-space-policy/
