In January 2016, Ghana will become the 6th African country to have a national space agency when the Ghana Space Science and Technology Institute becomes the Ghana Space Agency (GhSA). GhSA is intended to lead the nation’s civilian space exploration efforts, in accordance with the National Science, Technology and Innovation Policy and Development Plan for 2011-2015.

The Hon. Ms. Sherry Ayittey, Minister for the Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology, and Innovation (MESTI) in Ghana, first conceived the idea of a national space program in 2008 and inaugurated the Institute in May 2012.