Ghana Space Science and Technology

Ghana recently announced the approval of a Ghana Space Policy and Implementation plan that will pave the way for the operationalization of the Ghana Space Agency in 2023. The announcement was made by Vice President Alhaji Mahamadu Bawumia during the Group on Earth Observation (GEO) week hosted by Ghana from October 31 – November 4, 2022.

Though Ghana was not selected as the host of the Africa Space Center in 2019, it has continued to show leadership on the African continent in terms of advancing its deployment of Space technology. Ghana’s first satellite GhanaSat-1 was released from the International Space Station in 2017 mainly to observe Ghana’s coastline. Ghana is seen as second only to South Africa in terms of having the most advanced satellite dish research program in Africa. Ghana is also actively pursuing improved ways to harness the power of earth observations to support planning and decision making in areas such as weather forecasting; measuring land-use change such as deforestation; monitoring coastlines; and monitoring and responding to disasters including fires, floods and earthquakes.

The operationalization of the Ghana Space Agency is expected to lead to massive improvement in the gains recorded by the Ghana Space Science and Technology Institute (GSSTI), which currently has the responsibility to harness, coordinate, research, commercialize and explore space science and technology for the socio-economic development of the country. The GSSTI, which was established in 2012, has been at the forefront of the development of space technology in Ghana. The operationalization of the Space Agency means that Ghana will need to acquire the necessary technologies, knowledge, and skills to access and use earth observation data effectively, which creates commercial opportunities for U.S. companies. 

Please contact PaaEkow Quansah at Commercial Service Ghana at Office.Accra@trade.gov or +233(0)30-274-1870 if you would like more information about this business opportunity and see our Country Commercial Guide to Ghana for broader context on doing business in Ghana.