The government has begun steps to establish a Ghana Space Agency as part of efforts to strengthen the country’s space science and technology sector.
Minister of Environment, Science and Technology, Dr Zanetor Agyeman-Rawlings, disclosed that Cabinet had approved the move to transform the Ghana Space Science and Technology Institute (GSSTI) into a fully-fledged national space agency.
She made this known on Thursday, October 2, 2026, during a media engagement marking her first 100 days in office.
According to the Minister, the next phase will involve developing the legislative and institutional framework required to establish and operationalise the proposed agency.
She said the agency would provide a coordinated structure for Ghana’s space-related activities while supporting research, innovation, infrastructure development, public-private partnerships and international cooperation.
“The objective is not simply to create another institution,” Dr Agyeman-Rawlings said. “The objective is to establish a capable national institution” that can coordinate Ghana’s activities and enable the country to participate meaningfully in the global space economy.
Space technology for national development
Dr Agyeman-Rawlings said Ghana’s space programme should be centred on practical applications that can address pressing national development needs.
She identified agriculture, flood forecasting, climate adaptation, environmental monitoring, telecommunications, maritime surveillance, urban planning and national security as areas that could benefit from satellite and geospatial technologies.
The Minister also pointed to Ghana’s proximity to the equator, its location along the Gulf of Guinea and its relative stability in the West African region as factors that could support the country’s ambition to become a hub for space science, Earth observation, research and innovation.
She said government would work to improve Ghana’s ability to acquire, manage and analyse satellite data and convert it into useful information for policymaking.
“The value of a satellite image is not simply the image itself. Its real value lies in what we can do with the information,” she said.
Tackling environmental challenges
The proposed space agency is also expected to contribute to environmental monitoring and management.
The Minister said satellite imagery could be combined with drones, ground observations, geospatial systems and artificial intelligence to monitor issues including illegal mining, deforestation, land degradation, pollution of water bodies, wetlands, biodiversity loss, coastal ecosystems, waste management and air quality.
She said the use of such technologies could enable Ghana to move towards more evidence-based and predictive environmental management.
Particular attention, she noted, would be given to the use of satellite and geospatial data in efforts to monitor illegal mining and the degradation of the country’s water bodies.
Building Ghana’s space workforce
Dr Agyeman-Rawlings identified human capital development as a key component of Ghana’s space ambitions.
She said government would encourage young Ghanaians to pursue careers in fields such as aerospace and satellite engineering, astrophysics, remote sensing, geospatial science, artificial intelligence, robotics, data science, telecommunications, cybersecurity, space law and policy, and space entrepreneurship.
She also outlined plans to support scholarships, exchange programmes, mentorship opportunities and other initiatives aimed at developing a new generation of scientists, engineers and innovators.
The Minister said universities, research institutions, industry, government agencies and international partners would need to work more closely to build the expertise required to advance the sector.
Private sector participation
Dr Agyeman-Rawlings further called for increased private-sector participation in Ghana’s emerging space economy.
She said opportunities existed for businesses in sectors including agriculture, insurance, banking and finance, telecommunications, logistics, mining, maritime services, disaster management, urban planning, environmental monitoring and climate services.
Under the proposed framework, government would focus on providing the necessary policy, regulatory and institutional environment, while academic and research institutions develop knowledge and technologies and private companies explore opportunities to commercialise them.
Development partners and international institutions could also provide technical and financial support.
Next steps
As part of her first 100-day agenda, Dr Agyeman-Rawlings said government would prioritise stakeholder engagement on Ghana’s space policy, advance work on the legislative and institutional framework for the proposed agency, identify critical infrastructure and capacity-development needs, and strengthen partnerships with international space agencies and research institutions.
Government also intends to expand the use of satellite and geospatial information for environmental management, climate resilience and national development.
The Minister stressed that the 100-day programme was aimed at setting the direction for the sector rather than completing Ghana’s broader space agenda.
She said Ghana would continue to work with international partners and would not need to independently develop every component of its space capabilities.
Dr Agyeman-Rawlings also linked the initiative to the African Union’s Agenda 2063 and broader continental priorities in science, technology and innovation.
She urged the media and other stakeholders to support efforts to integrate space science and technology into Ghana’s national development strategy.
“The space economy of the 21st century is increasingly about solving real problems, creating economic opportunities, and improving lives,” she said.
