Workshop on space innovation end in Accra
A Technical Economic Advisor to the Vice President, Dr Samuel Frimpong, has stated that the government will deliberately accelerate efforts at making science and technology a major tool in development going into the next four years.
He said there was a direct relationship among science, technology and development and the current government would not deviate from that relationship as it worked to advance national development.
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Speaking to the media at the United Nations 4th African Space Generation Workshop (AFSGW) on February 25 in Accra, Dr Frimpong, noted that science and technology had the capacity to accelerate Ghana’s transition from a lower middle-income nation to an upper middle-income country within the shortest possible time.
Space programmes
He said the government will continue investing in innovative technology in particular through space programmes to maximise gains in the sector.
“Space innovation creates value for the economy and society. It brings significant employment to countries across the world, contributes to science and technology,” he said.
He said it was crucial to invest in the future and in solutions that was even more relevant during a crisis and the post-crisis world.
Consequently, he said the Office of the Vice President has been championing digitalisation of the Ghanaian economy because it believes that, that was the way to go.
The workshop
On theme; “Uniting Africa for Space Innovation: A Step towards our Common Future,” the two-day regional workshop provided the platform for students, young professionals and industry representatives to engage and nurture the next generation’s perspective on space and scientific matters in the African region.
The Event Manager of 4th Africa Space Generation Workshop, Mr Kingsley Ahenkora-Duodu, said the workshop also gave participants the opportunity to interact with experts from academia, businesses and space agencies through plenary and panel sessions, keynotes and working group discussions.
“It was a hybrid (physical and virtual) event which hosted about 40 participants onsite and over 70 participants joining virtually comprising students, young professionals, space industry representatives, space enthusiast across Africa and abroad,” he said.
The AFSGW was organised in collaboration with the Ghana Space Science & Technology Institute (GSSTI), African Union Commission, International Space Union, Planet, Development in Africa with Radio Astronomy (DARA), and the Arizona State University.
Moving Africa forward
The Director in-charge Human Resource Science and Technology at the African Union Commission, Dr Mahama Ouedraogo, stated that an investment into science and technology was the surest way to move Africa forward.
To make that a reality, he said the youth needed to make deliberate efforts through strong collaboration with their counterparts in other part of the world to fast-track the process.
He added that there was the need for Africa to reflect on how to maximise gains from space innovation to support itself and other part of the world.