Ghana creates Space Science and Technology Institute
A Space Science and Technology Institute has been established by the government to ensure the economic transformation of Ghana through cutting-edge research, aerospace-industry development, advanced scientific training, and satellite application activity coordination.
Advertisement
The institute is also expected to influence the creation of new jobs and new industries such as those related to the field of semi-conductors and electronic engineering, as new materials and minerals are researched.
This was disclosed by Professor Francis K.A. Allotey, President of the Ghana Academy of Arts and Sciences (GAAS), on Monday, when he delivered a lecture on the topic: “Science, Technology and Innovation Enterprise, a Platform for Economic Growth and Transformation of Ghana.”
He said, “Techniques developed to explore space including satellite communications, image processing, and medical technology have the potential to revolutionise standards of living.”
The GAAS president said contrary to criticisms made against the establishment 40 years ago of the first computer science department in sub-Saharan Africa at the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology as a waste of public resources, computers and ICT had now become indispensable.
In the same way, he believed that space science and technology were very essential.
The SKA Project
Prof. Allotey told the audience at the lecture that 11 African governments, including that of Ghana, had also committed to a multibillion US dollar square Array Radio Telescope (SKA) Project in Ghana.
According to him, as part of the SKA Project and with the assistance of South Africa, Ghana was converting the abandoned Vodafone Earth Satellite Station at Kuntunse (near Nsawam) into a radio astronomy telescope.
“After the successful conversion of the dish at Kuntunse, Ghanaian scientists and engineers will use their knowledge and skills to lead the conversion of 16 other abandoned satellite dishes in Africa into modern radio telescopes,” he said.
Aim of project
The SKA Project is also aimed at improving African capabilities in space science and technology and contribute immensely to the economic growth of Africa.
According to Prof. Allotey, the requirement for ultra-high speed Internet across Africa to operate the SKA would lead to the improvement of ICT infrastructure, making it more accessible to millions of people.
“It will create jobs for thousands of Africans and also make it possible for African scientists with their counterparts elsewhere to communicate more regularly and collaborate to answer some of the fundamental questions in cosmology such as dark matter, dark energy, Big Bang Theory etc.,” he said.
Writer’s email: [email protected]