Space science & technology education centre for Ghana

Koforidua, March 10, GNA - A Space Science and Technology Education Agency is to be established in Ghana to enable the nation benefit from new technologies such as space medicine in its developmental efforts.

Establishment of the agency would assist Ghana to apply technology for development, Dr Emmanuel Amamoo-Otchere, Executive Director of the Centre for Remote Sensing and Geographical Information Services (CERGIS) at the University of Ghana, Legon and a lead proponent of the Agency told journalists in Koforidua.

He said advances in space medicine could be adopted and adapted to national programmes to assist many citizens suffering from diseases that could not be cured with available drugs.

Dr Amamoo-Otchere said Ghana risked being left behind in the current space and tele-information revolution unless platforms were created to champion the need for the adoption of technology as the main basis for development.

He said like the Remote Sensing Centre established about five years ago, the proposed Space Agency could be initiated by the private sector to enable the public contribute and share in its vision as a springboard for accelerated space science development in Ghana.

Dr Amamoo-Otchere said there was a large field of "scientific application" that could be derived from space science that could be used to solve human problems.

He said most of Ghana's difficulties in environmental management could be achieved when remote sensing methods and other space-related applications were applied.

Dr Amamoo-Otchere addressing a workshop organised by the Eastern Region branch of Ghana Association of Science Teachers (GAST) asked the participants to use science to assist Ghana shirk itself from "unnecessary sentimental beliefs."

Speaking on "The role of the Science Teacher with regard to the impending total solar eclipse in Ghana on March 29, 2006," Dr Amamoo-Otchere asked them to educate the public about the negative effects of what could otherwise be an interesting experience.

He asked them to lead their students to appreciate the fact that if the eclipse was observed with the naked eyes without the eclipse shades, the rays reflected from the moon could be harmful to the eyes. Mr. G.B Appah, Eastern regional Chairman of GAST, said the workshop was organized to equip participants with knowledge that would enable them be abreast with emerging ideas in the scientific field. Mr Solomon Djabah-Mensah, Eastern regional Chairman of the Ghana National Association of Teachers (GNAT), observed that science had been the fundamental of drastic developmental changes in advancing nations and asked members of GAST to champion that cause in Ghana.