Africa Must Embrace Space Exploration and AI Opportunities

The space race has been left for the developed nations for centuries, and Africa is foot-dragging in expressing deep interest in the opportunities in space exploration at least for scientific research perspective. It seems Africa is either unconcern about the dynamic nature of advanced technologies ( now powered by AI ) and scientific based solutions to addressing some of the problems facing the continent or not focusing-much on living-on-science .

Consequently, it would be an unforgivable for the continent’s continual excuses of not having the technology and the know-how, and the financial-muscles for space science, because if we consider the quantum of financial resources that goes into waste annually through corruption and illicit financial in Africa, then minimizing these waste and channelling those resources in to space investment will bring ten-fold benefits for generations. For instance , according to the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development’s (UNCTAD) 248-page report estimate Africa loses nearly $89 billion annually in illicit financial flows such as tax evasion and theft, while other report estimate that developing countries lose $1.26 trillion per year to corruption, theft and tax evasion which is enough to lift over 1.4 billion people above the poverty line for next six years. Nonetheless, Africa has what it takes to offer in negotiations in exchange for financing, advanced technologies for space exploration and other technologies powered AI etc.

Africa has in abundance all the resources such as Gold, cocoa, bauxite , diamonds, platinum, iron, coal, cobalt, nickel, oil, uranium, lithium, natural gas, etc that the developed world needs the most , and lacks the advanced technologies and know-how the developed nations has the most. Therefore, there’s a need to dialogue on mutual benefits in resources- exchange schemes ( technology in exchange for natural resources concessions), instead of , Africa always at the receiving end of financial packages (Loans and grants facility) . New concessions/agreement based on technologies-natural resources exchange would benefits future generations and foster socio-economic development in the long-term for the continent .

This article commends India for their push to hang-on in space exploration with collaboration NASA- US . India space ambition dated back in 1975 had consistently progressed with several launches of satellites and rockets in to the Orbit for civil purposes latest one is the INSTA -3DS launched in February, 2024 its a significant milestone .

If Africa is not prioritizing on space research investment due to its inherent cost and other pressing poverty related or social policies, we could also capitalize on our natural resources for concessions as outlined-above. In light of this, SpaceX wants to revolutionize African market with starlink internet services which is a product of space exploration and research investment. This is a good avenue and opportunity for Africa to show a serious interest in space exploration by negotiating with SpaceX as they seek to dominate the continent, and with other advanced space agencies for collaboration and cooperation on space science.

In the case of Ghana, the first historic satellite ( Ghanasat-1) launched on July,7,2017 with NASA on falcon 9 rockets , the project of All Nations University, Koforidua led by Dr. Richard Damoah could be a stepping stone on a national level to help Ghana build capacity in space science and technology, further enhancing Ghana’s future capabilities in using satellite technology. Ghana has rapport with NASA and Japan space agency , the continent should expand further for collaboration with actors like EU Space Agency, Roscosmos ,Chinese Space Agency, Australia Space Agency etc. For example, Roscosmos, Russia space agency announced in August, 2022 the development of Russian Orbital Station (ROS) for deployment between 2027 and 2032, and emphasized on open for collaboration and cooperation with other countries, and Africa could cease such opportunity. Because the future is Science ,Science is Technology and Space is the laboratory!

Author : Evans DARKO, Ph.D. Finance Researcher, CREM Lab, France.