The Africa Space Expo (ASPEX), which concluded in Abidjan, Ivory Coast, last week, focused on the practical applications of space technology rather than traditional showcases of rockets and astronauts. The event served as a marketplace for space applications in areas such as food security, climate resilience, territorial monitoring, connectivity, and maritime security, facilitating collaboration among start-ups, project labs, and investors to advance ideas from demonstration to deployment.
Several agreements were made during the expo, including the signing of the Artemis Accords by Ivory Coast, making it the 75th signatory of the agreement on space exploration and development. Angola also signed a letter of intent for space cooperation with the United Arab Emirates.
The expo raised questions about Africa's ability to transition from utilizing space technology to developing its own capabilities. Ghana exemplifies both progress and challenges in this area.
Ghana's space and nuclear ambitions date back to its early independence years. In 1961, President Kwame Nkrumah initiated a nuclear reactor project in Accra, leading to the establishment of the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission in 1963. Although the reactor project was halted after Nkrumah's overthrow in 1966, the commission remains linked to the Ghana Space Science and Technology Institute (GSSTI).
Joseph Tandoh, director of the GSSTI, noted that Ghana's recent space program has benefited from a partnership with South Africa. This collaboration allowed Ghana to convert an old satellite antenna at Kuntunse into a functioning radio telescope, which was launched in August 2017.
Ghana's National Space Policy was approved in 2022 and is set to be launched in 2024. The government plans to establish a Ghana Space Agency by 2025, aiming to create a dedicated national institution for the sector.
At the GSSTI, efforts are underway to transition from using space technology to developing it. Tandoh mentioned the GEOMAIZE project, a partnership with VITO, which has utilized satellite data to enhance agricultural practices in Ghana. The project has focused on monitoring crop health and developing algorithms for crop classification, although challenges remain in accurately predicting yields due to the diverse farming practices in the country.
The GSSTI has also tracked forest loss linked to mining and is collaborating with Nigerian partners on a digital twin project to simulate coastal erosion. Support from the French embassy and international research partners is aiding improvements in yield estimation.
Victor Tagborloh, founder of Galaxy Aerospace Ghana, launched a high-altitude balloon in 2022, capturing images of Ghana's geography. The company has designed mini-rockets for the GSSTI and is advocating for the introduction of Starlink in Ghana by 2024. However, Tagborloh has faced challenges in securing investment for his ventures.
Galaxy Aerospace has plans for a space university and a ground station to enhance monitoring capabilities for floods and coastal erosion but is currently seeking funding to realize these projects. Tagborloh emphasized Ghana's geographical advantage near the equator for launching spacecraft and the need to develop local infrastructure and expertise.
Bright Atsu Sogbey, president of the Africa Development Council, highlighted the necessity of state involvement in building the space industry, citing the importance of establishing laboratories and manufacturing hubs. He noted that Ghana lacks the state-supported facilities needed to produce components domestically.
Engineer Daniel Aboagye stressed the need for educational reforms to incorporate space science into curricula, while Kwadwo Dwomo II called for increased government investment in the sector. Ghana hosts a small cluster of companies, including Galaxy Aerospace and Xavier Space Solutions, working in satellite technology and Earth observation.
The expo aimed to address the challenges of moving from space technology usage to local development, with the African Space Agency providing a framework for cooperation. However, significant gaps remain between the ambitions presented at the expo and the resources available to engineers.
Tandoh identified the immediate priority for Ghana as building a satellite-data processing hub to serve various government ministries, while Tagborloh emphasized the urgency of developing human resource capital in the space industry. Despite having policies, engineers, and institutions, Ghana still lacks the necessary capital and manufacturing capacity to establish a domestic space industry.