Ghana’s Cabinet has approved three landmark policies as the country seeks to develop space technology and innovation to an appreciable standard.
The instruments encompass the establishment of a National Space Policy, Ghana Space Agency and Science, Technology and Innovation Policy, which would serve as the guiding framework to position Ghana strategically in the global space economy.
Mr Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, the acting Minister of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, made this known in an address at the maiden Ghana Space Conference, in Accra.
Space technology, he said, offered the country enormous potential to address some pressing development challenges, creating value for multiple industries.
“The future of development is written in the skies. Satellites are no longer a luxury; they are the backbone of modern economies.
“They power precision farming, enhance disaster early warning systems, support the protection of forests and water bodies, and strengthen our digital economy.” Mr Buah noted.
The World Economic Forum (WEF) estimates that the global space economy will be worth some US$1.8 trillion by 2035, up from US$630 billion in 2023.

The growth drivers for the space economy include the need for greater connectivity via satellites, higher demand for positioning and navigation services on mobile phones, and increased demand for insights powered by AI and machine learning.
These innovations are delivering greater benefits to a more diverse set of stakeholders than ever before, including companies in industries ranging from food and beverage to transportation, according to development trend analysts.
On the Ghana Space Agency, Mr Buah, who is also the substantive Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, explained that the Attorney-General’s Department had been instructed to commence the legal processes towards its establishment.
“Once launched, it will serve as the institutional backbone of our space programme, coordinating national efforts, mobilising resources, and ensuring that space applications bring direct benefits to the people,” he noted.
Additionally, budgetary support would be provided to strengthen the Ghana Space Science and Technology Institute, and to operationalise the Ghana Space Agency, he added.
Professor Nana Ama Browne Klutse, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA), underscored the need for Ghana to invest massively in space science technology.
She cited space-based environmental monitoring technology, saying, if developed to an appreciable standard, it could provide the authorities with a bird’s eye view of the Earth, aiding the gathering of data on everything from atmospheric conditions to changes in the oceans and land cover.
Dr Joseph Tandoh, Director of the Ghana Space Science and Technology Institute (GSSTI), described the country’s maiden conference as timely as it would facilitate dialogues on national space law and governance.
The two-day programme was on the theme: “Harnessing Space Technology for Sustainable Development and Inclusive Growth in Ghana and Beyond”.
It was organised under the auspices of the EPA, GSSTI, Ghana Meteorological Agency, All Nations University, Spacehubs Africa, and Agbedus Consult.