AFRIGEOSS – The Ghanaian first steps Dr. P. K. Ashilevi, Ghana Space Science Technology Institute, Accra, Ghana. Email: ashiko79@hotmail.com Dr. Amos T. Kabo-bah, University of Energy and Natural Resources, Sunyani, Ghana. Email: amos.kabobah@uenr.edu.gh

Ghana Space Policy BEING DRAFTED

Ghana Space Science Technology Institute The Ghana Space Science and Technology Institute (GSSTI) is an Institute of the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission (GAEC), a public (national) research and academic (postgraduate and doctoral) institution which was established on January 01, 2011. The Institute, which is the brain-child of the Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology (MEST), is currently housed in the premises of the Commission’s Graduate School of Nuclear and Allied Sciences, Atomic Campus. Main Mandate. To establish a centre of excellence in space science and technology to foster teaching, learning, commercial application of space research for the economic transformation of Ghana and the sub- region.

Current activities at GSSTI Initiative to design and construct a CubeSat for earth observation and the monitoring of illegal mining forest cover degradation activities. Establishment of an Earth Satellite Receiving station for geospatial information Installation of GPS reference station Conversion of a 32 meter Satellite communications antenna into a Radio Telescope for Astronomy Collaboration with other Space faring nations on the development of Space Science and Technology in Ghana. Coordination with stakeholder institutions , departments and agencies on the use of Space Science and Applications for national development. Public education and outreach programmes on Space Science and Technology and its societal benefits

Road Map at GSSTI towards AFRIGEOSS Collaborations with member countries and agencies. Promotion of critical geospatial data and information to stakeholders Establishment of centers at the Institute for human capacity building Collaboration with other Institutions of higher learning and research.

University of Energy and Natural Resources (UENR) To become a world class institution for generating, advancing and applying knowledge in energy and natural resource sciences. In order to realize its vision and mission the University of Energy and Natural Resources shall be guided by the following core values: Promote innovation, creativity, freedom of thought and creative expression; Operate with integrity, commitment and transparency; Promote conservation of energy and the environment; Establish partnership with stakeholders in skills and knowledge generation and application; Respond to the needs of our students and partner communities Promote and incorporate sustainability concepts across all University courses/programmes as well as exemplifying the sustainability culture of staff, students and alumni.

Current activities @ UENR Establishment of the GEONETCAST Centre in October 2013 to support the dissemination, research, teaching and training in the use of satellite based data for resources management Installation of automatic weather station at the university to support activities of the GEONETCAST Centre Signed MOU with Lakehead University towards the establishment of an Eco- Drone Monitoring and Management Unit due September 2014 under the GEONETCAST Centre to support the real-time monitoring of activities such as illegal mining, illegal logging, vegetation mapping, erosion mapping etc. Signed MOU with CSIR Meraka Institute to establish Advanced Fire Information System (AFIS) at the university to support real-time forecasts and monitoring of wildfires in the West African Zone. Signed MOU with Canadian Forest Service to develop a web-based fire monitoring system for West and North Africa

Roadmap till 2020? UENR and GSSTI being some of the key pioneering institutions within the West African zone will continuously work with other relevant stakeholders to foster the successful implementation of the AFRIGEOSS initiative. In Ghana, UENR and GSSTI will promote the use and inclusion into the curriculum of tertiary institutions aspects of GIS, remote sensing and earth observation studies – this is critical to increasing the awareness of geospatial use and importance within the West African zone. UENR and GSSTI will promote the development of auxiliary datasets that are relevant towards improved agricultural production and informed decisions on poverty alleviation via training workshops and conferences within Ghana and West Africa GSSTI will act as the lead voice in promoting linkages within the West African zone space agencies to coordinate the activities and discuss mutual beneficial projects relevant for the AFRIGEOSS and within the context of West African zone.

Tentative Linkages… UENR GSSTI In discussion with GEONETCAST Centre Data Dissemination Across and Training Ghana Eco-drones Postgraduate Training Programme Research & Development of Relevant Env’t Indices Eco-drones Postgraduate Training Programme AFRIGEOSS Portal

GSSTI Products GSSTI observations will be made available via the GEONETCAST system Other relevant training and research products will also be distributed to the AFRIGEOSS system

Suggestions for the AFRIGEOSS Portal Needs to be web-based An example of such a web-based system is provided here below:

Suggestions for the AFRIGEOSS Portal Interactive web-based map An ftp server to store all files uploaded to the AFRIGEOSS system Documentations of all workshops and trainings on the products within the AFRIGEOSS system Linkage of the AFRIGEOSS system to the GEO Portal

Way Forward There is the need to identify the various stakeholders within each regional zone and find out what datasets they can produce or which datasets they have produced or intend to produce in the future. Responsible and committed organisations within various sub-regions must be clearly identified and tasked with various activities under the AFRIGEOSS. Sub-regional leaders needs to be identified, and in that case, an organogram of the implementation board for AFRIGEOSS needs to be developed Discussion about the design of the AFRIGEOSS portal and the costs implications of uploading data into such a system needs to be addressed and a guideline document developed. Committed individuals/organisations needs to be supported partially/fully during the first 5 years of the implementation of the AFRIGEOSS plan. In this case, a tentative 5-year plan for AFRIGEOSS needs to be drafted and approved by members.

Institutions in Ghana that matters… GSSTI UENR CERGIS EPA LANDS COMMISSION NADMO FORESTRY COMMISSION SURVEY DAPARTMENT ETC. Ghana will organize a workshop to meet some of the key stakeholders that are relevant for promoting AFRIGOSS this year

Ghana & Nigeria Ghana coordinating team will work closely with the counterparts – Nigeria to ensure the successful implementation of AFRIGEOSS. The lead organisation - National Space Research and Development Agency of Nigeria will be contacted on how best the sub-region West Africa can be fully active in the AFRIGEOSS initiative We believe once the draft implementation plan for AFRIGEOSS is developed and available, it will give a clear vision for all institutions and individuals to understand what and how to contribute.