Ghana is inching closer to establishing its own national space agency. From June 17–19, Accra is hosting a high-level Technical Advisory Mission led by the United Nations Office for Outer Space Affairs (UNOOSA) and Ghana’s Space Science and Technology Institute (GSSTI).

The goal is to help Ghana craft the legal, technical, and institutional frameworks needed to manage a fully functional space program.

Ghana has already made strides in space research, having launched the GhanaSat-1 in 2017. But stakeholders say that to fully harness the benefits of satellite data for agriculture, weather, and national security, the country needs an official body to coordinate and regulate space activities.

The three-day event brings together experts from across Africa and beyond. Participants are discussing best practices for legislation, long-term sustainability in space operations, and integration of space applications into national development strategies.

These conversations are expected to shape a policy blueprint that will go to Ghana’s parliament later this year.

Dr. Paul Ankomah, Director at GSSTI, said this marks a turning point. “We’re not just talking about launching satellites; we’re building an ecosystem one that can serve agriculture, disaster response, and education,” he stated at the opening session.

As space becomes a key driver of technological development in Africa, Ghana’s push to formalize its place in this frontier reflects a growing trend among African nations to participate in the global space economy not just as users, but as innovators.