{"id":97490,"date":"2025-10-07T14:58:36","date_gmt":"2025-10-07T14:58:36","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/?p=97490"},"modified":"2025-10-07T14:58:36","modified_gmt":"2025-10-07T14:58:36","slug":"maiden-space-conference-epa-boss-champions-investment-in-space-technology-to-combat-galamsey-and-environmental-protection","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/?p=97490","title":{"rendered":"Maiden Space Conference: EPA boss champions investment in space technology to combat galamsey and environmental protection"},"content":{"rendered":"
\n
\n \t<\/i> Read Time:<\/span>2 Minute, 22 Second <\/div>\n\n <\/div>
\n

The Chief Executive Officer of the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA),\u00a0Prof. Nana Ama Browne Klutse, is urging the government to make\u00a0strategic investments in space technology\u00a0as a sustainable tool to combat illegal mining and strengthen environmental protection.<\/p>\n

Speaking at the\u00a0maiden Ghana Space Conference\u00a0at the University of Ghana, Legon, Prof. Klutse said the recent\u00a0approval of the Ghana Space Policy by Parliament\u00a0marks a turning point in Ghana\u2019s effort to apply science and innovation to national development.<\/p>\n

\u201cGhana is already using space technology in many institutions,\u201d she said. \u201cWhat we need now is to move beyond being consumers to becoming producers of these tools. That\u2019s how we gain real economic power and control.\u201d<\/p>\n

She noted that while space technology comes with a high upfront cost, the long-term benefits, including improved resource management, environmental monitoring, and industrial growth, far outweigh the expenses.<\/p>\n

According to Prof. Klutse, space applications such as\u00a0precision agriculture and precision mining\u00a0could dramatically reduce land degradation and protect water bodies from pollution caused by indiscriminate prospecting.<\/p>\n

\u201cWith precision mining, there will be no need for random digging,\u201d she explained. \u201cTechnology can pinpoint exactly where resources are located, helping us protect our lands and rivers.\u201d<\/p>\n

She revealed that the EPA already employs space-based systems to\u00a0monitor air and water quality, forest cover, and land use, stressing that expanding local capacity will make these efforts more efficient and sustainable.<\/p>\n

The\u00a0Director of the Ghana Space Science and Technology Institute (GSSTI), Dr Joseph Bremang Tandoh, echoed her call for stronger government and private sector investment in space innovation.<\/p>\n

\u201cBoth the United Nations Convention and the African Space Policy emphasise space technology as a key driver of sustainable development,\u201d he said. \u201cNinety per cent of Africa\u2019s challenges can be addressed through space technology.\u201d<\/p>\n

Dr. Tandoh disclosed that alongside the Ghana Space Policy, Parliament has approved the establishment of a\u00a0National Space Agency\u00a0to coordinate all space-related initiatives nationwide.<\/p>\n

\u201cWe are not starting from scratch,\u201d he added. \u201cWhat we need now are resources and deliberate investments to make Ghana an active player in the global space economy.\u201d<\/p>\n

The global space industry is currently valued at about\u00a0US$600 billion\u00a0and projected to reach\u00a0US$1.3 trillion\u00a0within the next decade. Africa\u2019s share stands at\u00a0US$22 billion, with vast potential for growth if countries like Ghana invest in local production.<\/p>\n

\u201cIf we continue importing these technologies, we\u2019ll remain consumers,\u201d Dr Tandoh cautioned. \u201cDeveloping our own tools will create jobs and retain value within the economy.\u201d<\/p>\n

Both Prof. Klutse and DDrTandoh underscored that\u00a0funding remains the biggest barrier\u00a0to Ghana\u2019s full participation in the global space ecosystem. They called for sustained collaboration among\u00a0government, academia, and industry\u00a0to drive innovation, protect the environment, and position Ghana as a hub for space technology in Africa.<\/p>\n<\/div>\n

\n
\n \n
\n \n \"Happy\"\n <\/a>\n
\n Happy <\/div>\n
\n 0<\/span>\n \n 0<\/span> %<\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n
\n \n \"Sad\"\n <\/a>\n
\n Sad <\/div>\n
\n 0<\/span>\n 0<\/span> %<\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n
\n \n \"Excited\"\n <\/a>\n
\n Excited <\/div>\n
\n 0<\/span>\n 0<\/span> %<\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n
\n \n \"Sleepy\"\n <\/a>\n
\n Sleepy <\/div>\n
\n 0<\/span>\n \n 0<\/span> %<\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n
\n \n \"Angry\"\n <\/a>\n
Angry<\/div>\n
\n 0<\/span>\n 0<\/span> %<\/span>\n \n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n
\n \n \"Surprise\"\n <\/a>\n
Surprise<\/div>\n
\n 0<\/span>\n 0<\/span> %<\/span>\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n <\/div>\n <\/div>\n\n ","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"
\"MaidenThe Chief Executive Officer of the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA),\u00a0Prof. Nana Ama Browne Klutse, is urging the government to make\u00a0strategic investments in space technology\u00a0as a sustainable tool to combat illegal mining and strengthen environmental protection. Speaking at the\u00a0maiden Ghana Space Conference\u00a0at the University of Ghana, Legon, Prof. Klutse said the recent\u00a0approval of the Ghana Space [\u2026]<\/div>\n","protected":false},"author":1,"featured_media":0,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"closed","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"rop_custom_images_group":[],"rop_custom_messages_group":[],"rop_publish_now":"initial","rop_publish_now_accounts":{"facebook_2277560469115098_106292521332774":"","twitter_aToxNzczMzI3Njk4OTg4ODUxMjAxOw==_1773327698988851200":""},"rop_publish_now_history":[],"rop_publish_now_status":"pending","_monsterinsights_skip_tracking":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_active":false,"_monsterinsights_sitenote_note":"","_monsterinsights_sitenote_category":0,"footnotes":""},"categories":[5047,196,10030,1883,117,10,9,10031,10032],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-97490","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","hentry","category-epa","category-galamsey","category-maiden-space-conference","category-national","category-news","category-politics","category-popular","category-prof-nana-ama-browne-klutse","category-space-technology"],"aioseo_notices":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/97490","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/users\/1"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcomments&post=97490"}],"version-history":[{"count":0,"href":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/index.php?rest_route=\/wp\/v2\/posts\/97490\/revisions"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fmedia&parent=97490"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Fcategories&post=97490"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/sotnews.agency\/index.php?rest_route=%2Fwp%2Fv2%2Ftags&post=97490"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}