Ghana to Elevate GSSTI Authority Status and Strengthen EO Initiatives

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The Ghanaian cabinet has approved the Ghana Space Policy and Implementation Plan that will enable the full operationalisation of the Ghana Space Agency in 2023. Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia announced that the policy would support efforts by the Ghana Space Science and Technology Institute to explore and harness the space industry for accelerated growth.

According to the Chief Director of the Ghanaian Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation (MESTI), Cynthia Asare Bediako, Ghana had developed a space policy that would elevate the Ghana Space Science and Technology Institute (GSSTI) to the status of authority as part of its implementation.

Vice President Mahamudu Bawumia and Ms Bediako mentioned this on the sidelines of GEO Week 2022. She further said that the elevation of the GSSTI would enhance and empower it to improve earth observatory activities in Ghana.

Vice President Bawumia noted that investments in Earth observations capabilities were growing and enabling the widespread application of environmental intelligence to tackle environmental challenges. The Ghanaian government is working through bilateral and multilateral partnerships to put concrete actions in place to boost resource efficiency, establish a circular economy, mitigate, and adapt to climate change, mitigate disaster risks and halt biodiversity loss.

With the actualisation of the elevation status, the GSSTI will be better equipped to enforce laws guiding the encroachment of lands set aside for earth observatory activities that affect the operations of the Ghana Radio Astronomy Observatory and the Ghana Space Science and Technology Institute (GSSTI), which would, in turn, enhance earth observatory activities in Ghana.

Ghana is hosting GEO Week 2022, the 18th Annual Meeting of the Group on Earth Observations (GEO), from Monday, October 31 to Friday, November 4, 2022, at the Accra International Conference Centre. The five-day event titled “Global Action for Local Impact” is aimed at exploring ways to use accurate and timely data, technology and services to address environmental challenges.