Ghana Space Science and Technology Centre

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Ghana Space Science and

Technology Institute

(GSSTI)

Ghana Space Agency

and

overview

Formed

2 May 2012

; 13 years ago

Type

;

and

Headquarters

Ga East, Greater Accra

Employees

Ministers

responsible

Hon. Ophelia Mensah

Hayford

Child

and

Ghana Space Agency

Website

The

Ghana Space Science and Technology Institute

(GSSTI) was opened

officially on 2 May 2012 as

’s first

and technology

It is an Institution under the Ghana

Atomic Energy Commission. GSSTI and

(GhSA) aim to become

an arena of excellence in space science, space exploration and

through teaching, learning,

and space research

commercialisation. The centre and

will also allow scientists and

astronauts to conduct research into astrophysics,

, natural

resource management,

, agriculture and national

security.

History

[

]

The Ghana Space Science and Technology Institute (GSSTI) was first established

as a Centre under the School of Nuclear and Allied Sciences (SNAS) in January

2011 and launched in May 2012. It was later upgraded to an Institute in August

2013, to exploit space science and technology for socio-economic development

of the country.

Operations

[

]

The GSSTI space agency's first flagship project is the Ghana Radio

Project which will see the abandoned

earth

station at

, near

which have the 32 metre dish turned into a

telescope. In 2012, work was conducted by Ghanaian experts of the

GSSTI and South African experts of the Square Kilometre Array (SKA-SA) of

to replace worn out parts.

The 32 metre

radio telescope was commissioned as the Ghana Radio Astronomy Observatory

(GRAO) on 24 August 2017, by the President of Ghana,

and the Minister of Science of South Africa, Hon Grace Naledi

Mandisa Pandor.

The GSSTI is working with the

to engage with

, students, and young

professionals about collaboration with the centre and space agency; and it has already embarked on outreach programmes

to schools and has run tours to scientific sites.

Technicity

[

]

Between the years of 2012 and 2024, Ghana is reportedly seeking

5–10 billion in finance and funding support to

develop the centre's infrastructure and human capacity. It has approached a global consortium of multinational

institutions – including the

, and the bank

– as well as requesting technical advice from

the

, and

for space science exploration, and institutions in Japan,

and India,

The agency is planning to complete its first satellite by 2020. In 2015, the government allocated $10 million to

research nuclear and space science technology. The goal of the funding is to increase outreach and work towards Earth

imaging satellites, so they do not have to purchase imagery from other countries. As of 2016, there are 20 employees

working at the institute. A major driver of Earth monitoring satellites is to curtail the increase in

which has a negative effect on the environment.

Notable staff

[

]

Dr. Kofi Asare, Manager,

Dr. Theophilus Ansah-Narh, Manager,

Mr. Emmanuel Mornoh, Manager,