Ghana to establish national space agency

The Ghanaian government has initiated plans to establish a national space agency by transforming the existing Ghana Space Science and Technology Institute (GSSTI) into a fully-fledged body. Following Cabinet approval, the move aims to create a legislative and institutional framework to coordinate the country’s space-related activities.

Minister of Environment, Science and Technology, Dr. Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings, stated that the agency will focus on practical applications to address national development needs. Key sectors identified for satellite and geospatial technology integration include agriculture, flood forecasting, climate adaptation, telecommunications, maritime surveillance, and national security.

The agency is also expected to support research, innovation, and public-private partnerships. A major priority involves using Earth observation, drones, and artificial intelligence to manage environmental challenges, such as monitoring deforestation, illegal mining, and the degradation of water bodies, to move toward evidence-based governance.