The Ghanaian and Japanese governments have signed a groundbreaking space agreement to leverage space science for the former government's development.

Minister for Foreign Affairs Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa made this known in a Facebook post on Sunday, August 24, while revealing that President Mahama's recent engagement with the Japanese government has "delivered remarkable and tangible outcomes for Ghana."

After Ghana's recent engagement with Japan, the Volivo to Dorfor Adidome Bridge across the Volta River has been revived, the Kumasi inner city ring way project is set to commence, and a new agreement with Toyota to expand its operations in Ghana and make Ghana its West African hub has been reached.

Also, about 300,000 Ghanaian youth will benefit from training in AI, modern agriculture, green transition, tech-startups, and biotechnology. There is a special cooperation anchored on latest scientific research to boost rice production in Ghana and attain food security and a US$100 million secured for new agricultural projects

There is a strategic industrialization partnership with Japan, as Japan considers investing a dedicated US$1.5 billion in Africa in the short term.

In March 2022, the Cabinet approved the Ghana Space Policy. Two years later, then-Minister for Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation (MESTI), Ophelia Hayford, on behalf of the government launched a comprehensive policy for the utilisation of space science technology to aid national development.

“Let us leverage it (policy) to promote sustainable practices, drive technological advancement, foster international cooperation, and contribute significantly to the growth of space science in Ghana and across Africa,” the Minister said.

The event, attended by key players from government bodies, educational institutions, private sector organizations, and international space agencies, marked a historic step forward in Ghana’s scientific and technological landscape.

The policy paves the way for the setup of the Ghana Space Agency, which is to coordinate human capital and infrastructure development, as well as the growth of the space science sector.

Director of the Ghana Space Science and Technology Institute, Dr Joseph Bremang Tandoh, highlighted the relevance of space technology.

“Space technology can help us manage resources, track agricultural health, and mitigate climate change. With this policy, we are not just joining the space race but creating opportunities for economic growth, job creation, and technological advancement,” Dr Tandoh added.

Ghana, in 2011, signed the African Square Kilometre Array (SKA) partnership agreement with eight African countries, including South Africa, to develop the largest radio telescope network to explore leading-edge research.

President John Mahama was in Japan for the three-day 9th Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD), scheduled for August 20–22, 2025, in Yokohama. The conference was co-hosted by the Government of Japan, the United Nations, UNDP, the World Bank, and the African Union Commission.

The president touched down in Tokyo aboard Emirates flight EK 318, where he was received by officials of Ghana’s Embassy in Japan and representatives of the host government. The visit was aimed at deepening bilateral relations, expanding trade and investment links, and advancing cooperation on shared development priorities.

Last week, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) and Founder of Degas Limited, a Japanese business, Doga Makiura, announced his company’s decision to invest $100 million over the next four years to help Ghana become an AI-powered agricultural hub on the continent.

Doga Makiura made this known during a meeting with President John Dramani Mahama on the sidelines of the Ghana Presidential Investment Forum.

“Ghana has shown that when technology meets a clear national vision, smallholder farmers can thrive. Our $100 million commitment will scale AI-driven satellite monitoring and precision agriculture techniques so farmers can boost yields, reduce risk, and access fairly priced finance. We’ve already seen incomes double with a 95% repayment rate from the farmers,” he said.

Mr. Makiura revealed that many Japanese partners now consider Ghana’s integrated approach the gold standard for agricultural investment in Africa. He further indicated that “President Mahama’s focus on value-chain integration aligns closely with Japan’s search for credible, scalable partnerships.”

On his part, President John Dramani Mahama noted that the investment reinforces Ghana’s commitment to integrated agricultural value chains that connect farmers to markets, finance, storage, and processing.

“By leveraging AI and precision technologies, we will improve productivity, enhance food security, and create dignified jobs for youth across rural communities,” he added.