The Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation (MESTI) has presented a new pick-up to the Ghana Radio Astronomy Observatory to augments its activities.
The Vehicle was presented in Accra Thursday by the sector Minister, Professor Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng at the Ministry in Accra today.
Presenting the vehicle to the Ghana Radio Astronomy Observatory, Professor Kwabena Frimpong-Boateng said the Ghana Space Science and Technology institute is in the process of introducing the African Colocation Programme that involves establishing satellite ground stations, scientific instrumentation and data infrastructure at Kuntunse.
He noted that data collected, including satellite imageries will be distributed to Governmental Institutions and Agencies that use satellite imageries.
Professor Frimpong-Boateng stated that the major institutions that use satellite imageries include Roads and Highways, Agriculture, Railways, EPA, Lands, Town Planning, GRIDCO, Ghana Telecom, Energy, Security, Fisheries and Forestry Commission.
However, he stressed that the GSSTI has not got a single vehicle and that makes its work difficult, especially when there are visiting engineers and technicians from partner countries.
“In September 2017, the President was at Kuntunse to commission the Radio Astronomy observatory and he follows your activities with keen interest. when he was informed about transportation challenges he, without hesitation, asked MESTI to get you a pick up as a sign of great things to come,” he said.
The vehicle, Professor Frimpong-Boateng said will make the movements of the Ghana Radio Astronomy Observatory easier, adding that the rest of the vehicles will be presented to the other agencies under the ministry.
For his part, Prof. Benjamin J.B. Kwabena Nyarko thanked the minister for always coming to their aid when they are confronted with challenges.
He assured the Minister that the vehicle will be put to good use and maintained for it to last last.
“We thank the Minister for this wonderful thing he has done for us, it is not only this. The last time the Atomic Energy Commission had a vehicle from government was in 2008, when we had two pick-ups, and just last year, the ministry also helped us acquir two pick-ups and two motorbikes for our job and we have had another one today. Our Minister has been supporting us in all phases and we assure him that the vehicle will be used for the purpose of which it was donated to us, we will never disappoint him,”he said.
Ghana| Atinkaonline.com| Porcia Oforiwaa Ofori
