ACCRA, Ghana, September 16, 2026 Ghana and Japan are exploring expanded cooperation in space science, technology and innovation as the two countries seek to build on existing partnerships in research, education and technology.
The discussions took place on Tuesday, September 15, when Ghana’s Minister for Foreign Affairs Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa hosted Japanese astronaut and Axiom Space Chief Technology Officer for Asia Pacific, Dr Koichi Wakata, for a dinner at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Accra.
The dinner followed a courtesy call by Wakata and formed part of his visit to Ghana from September 15 to 19, 2026.
Welcoming the Japanese astronaut, Ablakwa said Ghana was prepared to coordinate and support international partnerships that contribute to the country’s national and strategic objectives.
He said space exploration was a global undertaking that required cooperation between countries, scientists, engineers and institutions. Ghana, he added, would continue strengthening its relationship with Japan to create opportunities for collaboration in the sector.
The Minister also noted that 2027 would mark 70 years of formal diplomatic relations between Ghana and Japan. He recalled Japan’s longstanding contribution to Ghana, particularly in science, research and public health.
Ablakwa also welcomed Wakata’s planned engagements with Ghanaian students, saying exposure to scientists and professionals working in advanced fields could encourage young people to pursue careers in science, technology and innovation.
The Chief Director of Ghana’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ambassador Khadija Iddrisu, said space technology was becoming increasingly important to national development.
She pointed to the use of satellites and space based data in communications, agriculture, environmental monitoring, disaster management and national security.
Iddrisu said Ghana needed to take practical steps to strengthen its ability to use these technologies and described Wakata’s visit as an opportunity for knowledge exchange and greater interest in space science and technology.
She also expressed hope that the engagement would lead to new exchanges and partnerships between Ghana and Japan that support Ghana’s development priorities.
Japan’s Ambassador to Ghana, Hiroshi Yoshimoto, described Wakata as a prominent figure in Japan’s space programme and the wider international space community.
Yoshimoto said Wakata had completed five space flights and spent a cumulative 504 days in space. He also recalled Wakata’s involvement in the construction of the International Space Station and his appointment as the first Japanese astronaut to command the ISS in 2014.
The Japanese Ambassador pointed to Japan’s previous support for Ghana’s space ambitions, including assistance in the launch of Ghana’s first satellite.
He said Wakata’s visit provided an opportunity for the two countries to build on that experience and deepen cooperation in science, technology and space related activities.
The Vice Chancellor of the University of Ghana, Professor Nana Aba Appiah Amfo, also spoke about the university’s longstanding relationship with Japan in research, science and capacity development.
She cited the Noguchi Memorial Institute for Medical Research and other initiatives at the university as examples of Japan’s contribution to Ghana’s academic and research development.
Amfo said partnerships remained a priority under the University of Ghana’s 2024 to 2029 Strategic Plan and expressed the institution’s readiness to expand cooperation in science, technology and innovation.
She also welcomed Wakata’s planned interaction with the university community, saying students and researchers would have an opportunity to learn from his experience.
Wakata, for his part, spoke about his journey into space, recalling that his interest began when he was five years old after watching the Apollo 11 Moon landing.
He said becoming an astronaut appeared beyond his reach at the time, but international cooperation later enabled him to work alongside scientists and engineers from different countries.
His career eventually took him aboard the Space Shuttle, the Russian Soyuz spacecraft and SpaceX Crew Dragon.
Wakata encouraged young Ghanaians to pursue careers in science, technology and engineering. He said international cooperation and supportive frameworks were important in turning scientific ideas into practical achievements.
He also discussed sustainability in space, including the recycling of resources aboard the International Space Station and the growing challenge posed by space debris.
The astronaut said addressing space debris was necessary to ensure that future generations could safely explore and use space.
Students from Presbyterian Boys’ Secondary School, Legon, also attended the event. The school won the 2026 National Science and Maths Quiz, securing its ninth title.
The students had the opportunity to interact with Wakata and hear about his experiences in human spaceflight and space exploration.
Wakata’s visit to Ghana runs from September 15 to 19 and is focused on knowledge exchange and opportunities for stronger Ghana Japan cooperation in space science, technology and innovation, while contributing to the broader bilateral relationship between the two countries.
Ghana and Japan already have a broad development partnership, including cooperation in areas such as health, infrastructure, agriculture, education and research. A February 2026 agreement between the two governments provided an additional grant of about US$20 million for healthcare development in Ghana’s Northern Region.
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