Ghana needs new policy regime on space engineering – Daasebre Oti Boateng

Chancellor of the All Nations University has called for a new policy focus to harness the potential of Ghana’s new global brand in space engineering for economic development in the areas of security, education and capacity building.

Daasebre Prof. (Emeritus) Oti Boateng, who is also the Omanhene of New Juaben Traditional Area, says Ghana has now joined the elite group of nations with space science programmes, following a global historic milestone in launching its first satellite into space.

The country will participate fully in next year's meeting marking the 50^th Anniversary of the first UN Conference on the Exploration and Peaceful Uses of Outer Space.

Daasebre Oti Boateng says whilst the successful deployment of Ghana's first satellite into space from the International Space Station has placed Ghana on the global pedestal, the remarkable feat must be the starting point for a new national policy regime to develop and fully utilize the benefits of space science for national development as a new global player.

“GhanaSat1 will beef up and strengthen our national security by taking pictures with on-board cameras to monitor Ghana’s coastal regions. It will also stimulate and promote science, technology; engineering and mathematics (STEM) related skills by demonstrating the unique power of broadcasting songs from outer space to invigorate the learning process,” he said in a statement.

He is confident this will particularly encourage girls to be more interested in and responsive to STEM related disciplines which will continue to be in high demand and a major pathway to bridging the gender gap in the development process.

The successful deployment of Ghana's first satellite, GhanaSat1, into space followed a three-phase process with the initial major milestone accomplished on 3^rd June when GhanaSat1 was successfully launched aboard SpaceX-Falcon 9 CRS11 spacecraft from the Kennedy Space Center making a steady progress on its trajectory towards the International Space Station (ISS).

The second milestone was achieved with the successful rendezvous of the spacecraft with the ISS on 5^th June while the final phase was achieved with the successful deployment of GhanaSat1 from ISS into orbit at an estimated altitude of 400km above the earth atmosphere via the Japan/Kibo Deployment System. 

The scientific data and earth observation images taken by GhanaSat1 will be shared with both government and non-governmental institutions to promote capability building and the utilization of satellite-based information to solve relevant and pertinent problems in the country.

Daasebre noted “this emerging global brand pioneered by the young scientists from the All Nations University, Koforidua in the Eastern Region, remains a source of pride for all Ghanaians and a remarkable inspiration for the youth to adopt and embrace a globally competitive spirit to make a difference in this era of globalization”.

He commended the young scientists and applauded the cooperation of all stakeholders, particularly authorities at the All Nations University, for providing the requisite investment and extensive collaboration with leading universities and institutions worldwide to make this achievement possible.

By Kofi Adu Domfeh

Blanqcheq offers platform for Apps developers to market products

Budding start-ups in software and program application development have had an opportunity to expose their products and services at an ICT fair in Kumasi.

The “Team Hybrid” event was organized by Blanqcheq Enterprise to offer a platform for viable entrepreneurs in the apps and software industry to share ideas and access support services.

Legal issues in patenting and intellectual property rights as well as funding opportunities were explored during the exhibition, which attracting developers from tertiary educational institutions including the KNUST, Kumasi Polytechnic, IPMC and IITA.

“Most of the apps are viable which I know when they come out they would be able to make an impact and reduce the unemployment rate in Ghana,” said Martins Adusie, a director with the organizing firm.

Communications Minister, Dr Edward Omane Boamah, has stated that Government would continue to provide an enabling environment for ICT entrepreneurship to thrive.

According to him, Ghana’s ICT Policy is being revised as part of Government efforts to enhance ICT entrepreneurship and to address contemporary technology trends and threats.

Martins is confident an enabling environment would enable locally developed apps can be globally competitive.

“Looking at the level of technology that we have now, we should be able to compete in the global market because with most of the apps that we have right now, majority of them are non-existent and with our own determination and if we are able to get good marketing for the products that we have got, we should be able to go that far,” he said.

Story by Kofi Adu Domfeh

Harnessing agricultural research for national development

The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) has the research capacity to drastically reduce the huge annual import bill for rice and yellow maize, says Kwesi Ahwoi, Minster of Food and Agriculture (MOFA).

He has however acknowledged the need for Ghana’s policy environment to be put right to increase the production of cereals from the current 51 percent.

“How to fund research in a focused manner”, he noted, is one key challenge for Ghana’s agric modernization and commercialization.

Mr. Ahwoi says it is his “avowed desire and commitment” for MOFA to work in unison with the Ministries of Finance and Economic Planning (MOFEP) and Environment, Science and Technology (MEST) to “significantly increase the funding of our research institutions to enhance the status of research and researchers and scientist so that Ghanaian farmers can get the best out of them through enhanced research-extension linkages”.

The Minister was speaking at the CSIR-Crops Research Institute (CRI) Open Day in Kumasi, under the theme: “Harnessing Agricultural Research for National Development”.

The Institute opened its doors to farmers, industrialists, students and general public to visit its research fields and laboratories as well as showcased improved technologies developed to increase agricultural production.

Citing the cocoa sector as a success story, Mr. Ahwoi challenged the CSIR and other research institutions to put up a strategic proposal to apply similar methodology to two or three other crops.

“Agriculture is not natural, it is a human invention based on the efficient and cost effective application of science and technology to nature through research and to make the research results readily available and affordable to farmers to increase agricultural productivity, ra

ise farm incomes, reduce rural poverty, improve food security and accelerate the rate of economic development”, stated the Agric Minister.

He lauded the contribution of CRI mandated crops to the national economy.

The CSIR-CRI, established in 1964, has been developing and disseminating environmentally sound technologies for high and sustainable food and industrial crops – grains, roots and tubers, horticultural and vegetables.

Crop varieties released for Ghanaian farmers and consumers include 25 maize (most popular is ‘Obaatanpa’ used across the Africa region), 11 cassava, 10 cowpea, 8 sweet potato, 7 rice, 4 soybean and 4 groundnut. There are also 3 yam, 2 pepper, 1 plantain and 1 banana varieties.

Deputy Director-General of the CSIR, Dr. Rose Emma Mamaa Entsua Mensah said the scientists have also introduced to rice farmers the ‘Sawah Technology’ for rice production in the inland valleys.

“Some of you may not be aware that some market women buy our improved rice varieties and bag them as imported American grain and consumers eat them without knowing the difference. This is because the Crops Research Institute and its sister institute, the Savanna Agricultural Research Institute have out with rice varieties comparable to refined rice such as Gbewaa rice, sika mo and ‘efie ne fie’”, she stated.

Dr. Entsua Mensah added the return of maize research in Ghana since 2005 stands at 79 percent.

She has however bemoaned the low staff salary compared with analogues institutions. This, according to her, has resulted in low staff morale resulting in high attrition, as most of the Council’s experienced research scientists leave for the universities and other institutions which offer better conditions of service.

The government has asked the CSIR to commercialize their research activities to generate internal funds.

The CSIR-CRI for instance is collaborating with some processing companies to add-value to varieties released by the Institute. These include the Premium Foods Limited – maize-based food products; Masig Natural Fruits Industries – banana variety into juice; JOSMAC Agro

Industries – cassava varieties into gari and other products for export and local consumption; and Panford & Sons Limited – pepper Shito Adope into pepper paste.

But according to the Deputy Director-General, though the CSIR is doing its best, it is constrained because “in the area of agriculture, our clients are mostly the resource-poor farmers most of who cannot afford to buy certified seeds for their own small farms, let alone pay for consultancy services from our research scientists”.

Dr. Hans Adu-Dapaah, Director of the CRI, observed climate change poses a major threat to agricultural production.

He however says the Institute has taken prudent measures to mitigate its effect including development of drought and flood tolerant crop varieties, early and extra maturing crop varieties to escape drought.

“The Millennium Development Goals are high on our priority list and the CSIR-CRI would continue to develop high yielding and quality crops in nutrients to reduce poverty, hunger, child mortality and improve maternal health”, stated Dr. Adu-Dapaah.

The Institute is currently collaborating with the Alliance for a Green Revolution in Africa (AGRA), the World Bank, the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and international research centers of the Consultative Group on International Agricultural Research (CGIAR) to address various challenges in agriculture.

Story by Kofi Adu Domfeh