By Patrick Biddah
Ghana’s ambition to produce its first astronaut received a major boost on Tuesday, September 15, 2026, when renowned Japanese astronaut Koichi Wakata, a five-time space traveller, paid a historic visit to the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Accra as part of his three-day visit to Ghana.
Foreign Affairs Minister Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, who hosted Mr. Wakata to a dinner, described the visit as a unique and historic occasion for Ghana, expressing the hope that the Japanese astronaut’s presence would inspire a new generation of Ghanaian scientists, engineers and young people to pursue careers in space science and exploration.
The Minister said the visit could mark the beginning of a journey towards Ghana producing its first astronaut and potentially becoming the first African country to produce an astronaut.
He said the presence of young champions from Presbyterian Boys’ Secondary School (PRESEC), the nine-time winners of the National Science and Maths Quiz, at the dinner was deliberately intended to expose them to Wakata’s remarkable career and inspire them to believe that space exploration was within their reach.
Having travelled to space five times during a career spanning more than three decades, the Minister said Wakata represent an example of human potential and an inspiration for Ghanaian youth who aspired to break new ground in science and technology.
The Minister said Ghana’s emerging space ambitions would require strong international partnerships, noting that no country could independently develop a sophisticated space programme without cooperation among scientists, institutions, governments and other international partners.
He therefore expressed Ghana’s appreciation for Japan’s support and said the country would continue to strengthen its cooperation with Japan as it took what he described as the necessary “baby steps” towards establishing a strong national space programme.
Mr. Ablakwa further disclosed that Ghana and Japan had signed a number of Memoranda of Understanding (MOUs) at both the governmental and institutional levels, including agreements intended to deepen cooperation in areas of science, technology and development.
He said significant progress had been made following agreements signed during the ninth Tokyo International Conference on African Development (TICAD IX) last year, describing the developments since then as encouraging.
He said the Government was working towards the formulation of a national policy on space, which, after the necessary processes and Cabinet approval, would pave the way for the establishment of Ghana’s first dedicated space institution.
According to the Minister, Ghana’s partnership with Japan was therefore not limited to space exploration but formed part of a much broader relationship covering education, science, infrastructure, maritime security, investment and other areas of mutual interest.
He cited the growing presence of Japanese companies in Ghana and ongoing cooperation as evidence of the expanding relationship between the two countries.
The Minister also used the occasion to highlight three major milestones Ghana and Japan would commemorate next year. The two countries will mark 70 years of formal bilateral relations, 50 years since the arrival of Japanese volunteers in Ghana and 100 years since Japanese medical scientist Dr. Hideyo Noguchi came to Ghana to conduct research but died.
