Cabinet has given its approval to a national space policy aimed at providing a framework for the use of space science and technology to foster sustainable development. The policy will facilitate the coordination of space data access and consumption by various ministries, departments, and agencies (MDAs).
Dr. Kwaku Afriyie, the Minister of Environment, Science, Technology, and Innovation (MESTI), announced this significant milestone during a "Meet the Press" series in Accra. He emphasized the lack of coordination among MDAs in accessing space data and the need to prioritize value for money in such endeavors.
In light of leveraging space technology, MESTI is collaborating with relevant ministries and the private sector to transform the Ghana Space Science and Technology Institute (GSSTI) into a space agency. This initiative aims to coordinate human capital, infrastructure, and space science growth. Although the government has halted the establishment of new agencies due to financial constraints, Dr. Afriyie urged an exemption for the space agency, stating that the GSSTI already possesses the required infrastructure, thus incurring zero financial burden on the government.
The ministry has unveiled a 10-year master plan to boost the commercialization of research and innovation through the Ghana-Korea K-Innovation Partnership Programme. Additionally, a National Science, Technology, and Innovation (STI) policy has been reviewed with support from the UN Educational, Scientific, and Cultural Organization (UNESCO).
Dr. Afriyie also highlighted other initiatives, such as the review of a Biological and Toxin Weapons Bill, the drafting of an Environmental Protection Authority (EPA) Bill to elevate the status of the EPA to an authority, and the ministry's focus on circularity and circular economy, climate mitigation and adaptation, nature and ecosystem-based approaches, and sustainable development.
Efforts to combat climate change, promote renewable energy sources, and manage waste efficiently through recycling, reuse, and sustainable disposal methods are part of the ministry's commitments. Furthermore, MESTI has selected 12 small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs) involved in the plastic value chain to receive technical and financial support for effectively managing plastic waste. These SMEs will work to discourage single-use plastics production, demonstrate the production of biodegradable plastics from alternative feedstock, and implement projects for environmentally sound disposal of non-recyclable plastics.
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