Group on Earth Observations – GEO Global Forum 2025 & GEO-20 Plenary

Honourable Ministers, Excellencies, Distinguished Delegates, and Esteemed Colleagues,

On behalf of the Government of Ghana, I bring warm greetings and reaffirm our unwavering commitment to the mission of the Group on Earth Observations (GEO). It is a great honour to be part of the GEO community, which continues to serve as a global catalyst for unlocking the transformative power of Earth observation to address our most pressing challenges.

Over the past year, Ghana has taken bold steps to integrate Earth observation into its national development strategy. Through the Ghana Space Science and Technology Institute (GSSTI), our country launched its National Space Policy in 2024, marking a new era of coordinated action in space science, environmental monitoring, and data-driven governance. This policy lays the foundation for our engagement with GEO and international partners, recognizing Earth observation as a critical tool for resilience, innovation, and sustainable development.

Climate adaptation, green energy, and disaster preparedness continue to be top national priorities. One critical area of focus is the strengthening of early warning systems, especially in urban centers like Accra, where repeated flooding poses a significant socio-economic threat. Recurrent flood events have caused widespread damage to lives and infrastructure. While Ghana is not yet fully utilizing Earth observation (EO) technologies to address these challenges, we have begun implementing EO-based approaches on a modest scale, with plans to expand their use in the near future. Through our collaboration with the Group on Earth Observations (GEO), we are building the foundation for more advanced, data-driven early warning capabilities to better protect our communities and vital national assets.

Illegal mining, commonly referred to as 'galamsey,' remains a major environmental and economic concern in Ghana. In response, the country has stepped up efforts to detect and address these activities through the use of satellite imagery and Earth observation data. These measures are helping to safeguard natural resources while advancing national objectives for sustainable land management and ecological restoration. They also support the enforcement of government policies aimed at promoting responsible land use and environmental protection.

To amplify our impact, Ghana continues to champion a co-design and user-driven approach, engaging local governments, academia, private sector, and community actors in the development and uptake of EO services. We strongly endorse GEO’s vision of equitable access to Earth data and emphasize the need for long-term investment in local capacity and infrastructure, including ground receiving stations and high-performance computing for EO analytics. As we look ahead, Ghana is eager to deepen its role in GEO regional programs such as AfriGEO, and welcomes further collaboration under the Cape Town Declaration. We believe the time is ripe for institutionalizing the use of EO in national legislation and policies, ensuring its continuity and impact beyond pilot programs.

In conclusion, Ghana stands ready to work with GEO partners to harness Earth observations for climate action, disaster risk reduction, sustainable mining, food security, and inclusive growth. We thank GEO for the opportunity to be part of this transformative global community and reaffirm our dedication to building a more sustainable and resilient future, powered by data.

Thank you.