Ghana nurses satellite ambition

The Director of Ghana’s Space Science and Technology Centre (GSSTC), Nana Ama Browne Klutse has said that the nation has the potential of becoming the first to develop and launch its own satellite in the Africa Continent.

‘’We have all it takes to develop and launch our own satellite in Ghana because we have the resource, the technology and the brains,’’ she said.

Speaking at a workshop to introduce student to Space Science and Satellite Technology organised by the GSSTC for the students of the All Nations University at Koforidua, Dr. Klutse said the aim of the programme was to sensitize the students to take the initiative to launch onto the new system which most countries are benefiting immensely.

Dr. Klutse who spoke extensively on the benefits of space satellite said Ghana had the chance of gaining a lot from it if the government laid much emphasis on the science and technology from the basic schools.

She explained that research had shown that children love space and space- themed activities inspire many of them to study mathematics and science adding that ‘’the business and the entertainment subjects are too much, let us begin to focus on the sciences enable us to change the nation’s destiny.’’

She urged Ghanaians and especially the authorities in the educational sector to turn their focus on the science and technology to change the destiny of the nation.

The director said that Africa was once paying about 500 dollars million annual lease to America and Europe for satellite information until the former Libyan President, Gaddafi intervened to pay 400 million dollars for the Africa Satellite (RASCOM).

She also said Nigeria spent 50 million dollars and India also 2.48 million dollars on space programmes adding that ‘’this is not beyond Ghana so we have to take the risk.’

Mr. Manfred Quashie, a Satellite Engineer, also talked about satellite application and the different types of satellites, their uses and benefits to both the students and the nation as a whole whilst Mr. Adongo Atidor Thompson talked about space Dynamics.

In his introductory message, the president of the All Nations University, Dr. Samuel Donkor, said the university would be the first to run a course on Space Science and Satellite Technology in Ghana.

He advised the students to apply themselves to the sciences to enable the nation to take up its place in terms of science and technology in Africa.

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Posted by AfricaSTI on March 4, 2012. Filed under Headlines, Tech. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0. You can leave a response or trackback to this entry