Minister of MESTI, Prof. Frimpong Boateng

Prof. Kwabena Frimpong Boateng, Minister of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, says Ghana is ready to host the African Union (AU) Space Agency.

He made this statement at the meet-the-press at the Information Ministry’s Conference Room in Accra.

During his speech he mentioned that, Ghana had the capability to host the continental space agency effectively.

According to him, the successful launch of a satellite into space by some students of the All Nations University College in June 2017 had boosted the government’s confidence in Ghana’s ability to host the AU Space Agency.

The satellite, GhanaSat 1, was developed with support from the Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA).

It has been embedded with low and high capacity cameras to take pictures of Ghana.

It will also, provide data that can be used to monitor the coastal areas of the country.

Prof. Frimpong-Boateng said MESTI, was ready to facilitate the development of the required human resources for the successful implementation of the national space programmes.

He reiterated that science, technology and innovation (STI) was an integral part of the government’s development agenda to ensure sustainability and environmental safety.

He made mention that, his ministry was collaborating with all other ministries to ensure the effective application of STI to government development programmes.

According to him, Ghana’s technology gap had resulted in the slow pace of its development and poverty level.

This, has led government to introduce a number of interventions to bridge the technology gap to facilitate sustainable and accelerated development.