By Yaw Ampofo jr
The Promoting Astronomy in Ghana through School Visits and Astronomy Clubs (PRAGSAC), in partnership with the Department of Earth Science and Development in Africa with Radio Astronomy (DARA), hosted the Fireside Skywatch Festival 2024 at the Department of Earth Science, University of Ghana.
The festival featured prominent guest speakers, including Dr. Marian Sapah, Senior Lecturer/Cosmochemist, Department of Earth Science, University of Ghana, Prof. Larry P. Chegbeleh, Head of the Department of Earth Science, University of Ghana, Ing. Albert Kuntu Forson, National Outreach Coordinator, Ghana Administrator, PRAGSAC, Jemimah E. Kwa-Kuyi of the Mars Society, PRAGSAC , Dr. Naomi Asabre Frimpong, Head of Outreach and Science Communication, Ghana Space Science and Technology Institute, Dr Tom Scragg- Visiting Academic, Jodrell Bank Centre for Astrophysics, University of Manchester, UK, DR. BENEDICTA WOODE (PhD)- Research Scientist, Ghana Space Science and Technology Institute; DR EVARISTUS U. IYIDA -DARA Postdoc Fellow; Dr Bernard Dua-Asabre-Instrument Scientist, Astronomy & Operations (A&O) – ASTRON Nederland and Prof. Leah Morabito-UKRI Future Leaders Fellow, Durham University.
The festival, held at the University of Ghana on Friday December 13, 2024, brought together astronomy enthusiasts, the public, and key stakeholders to celebrate and reconnect with Africa’s rich astronomical heritage.
The Fireside Skywatch festival is the first we are having this year in Ghana — there are going to be subsequent ones in other regions. The emphasis [of the event] is on highlighting Astronomy and space science through our culture [Cultural astronomy]. What we are trying to do is to Recap stories that we know about in the Ghanaian culture that highlight astronomy and use that to educate and promote or raise awareness about Astronomy, planetary and space science. — Dr. Marian Selorm Sapah.
The Fireside-skywatch-festival-2024 was held under the theme “AfricaLookUp Cascade Outreach Activities” as part of the International Astronomical Union General Assembly 2024 (IAU-GA2024). The Fireside Skywatch Festival 2024 aimed to revive the love for stargazing and promote astro-tourism in Ghana.
“This event aims to inspire young people and show them that astronomy and space science are viable career options. Earlier this year, the Minister of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, Hon.
Ophelia Mensah Hayford, unveiled Ghana’s space policy, highlighting the country’s plans to become actively involved in the space industry. Astronomy, as a critical aspect of the space industry, has the unique ability to inspire youth to pursue STEM fields, which are essential for driving economic development.” — Dr. Naomi Asabre Frimpong stated in an interview.
According to Ing. Albert Kuntu Forson, who also serves as the National Astronomy Education Coordinator for the International Astronomical Union (IAU), the festival aimed to bridge the gap between ancient and modern perspectives on astronomy.
Ing. Forson emphasized the festival’s role in promoting astro-tourism in Ghana. “Many people are unaware of the beauty of our skies and their potential for tourism. We aim to promote astro-tourism alongside traditional tourism. This is our main focus and objective. Astronomy has contributed to technological advancements such as medical imaging technologies like CT scans, MRIs, and X-rays; Global Positioning System (GPS) for navigation; weather forecasting through Earth-observing satellites; Wi-Fi technology developed from radio astronomy research; and infrared imaging techniques from astronomy applied to detect crop stress, disease, and water needs, among others,” he added.
Ing. Forson highlighted some challenges facing them citing funding as a major obstacle. “We have faced many difficulties, and one of them is funding. We depend mostly on foreign funding through proposals writing; we have to write proposals to external organizations to get support for our activities. Most of our members are volunteers who visit schools regularly, often weekly or biweekly. These visits require funding for transportation and learning and teaching materials. Without these resources, we cannot leave a lasting impact on the schools we visit. Even providing teaching and learning materials would help us continue our volunteering efforts, promote space science, and inspire the next generation of astronomers,” .
PRAGSAC aims to extend its outreach to rural areas by forming astronomy and space science clubs in schools.
“Through these clubs, children are exposed to astronomy beyond their textbooks. Early exposure helps them make informed career choices, such as becoming astronomers, astronauts, or space scientists,” Ing. Forson revealed.
He further called on the government to support the newly launched space policy and establish a national space agency. “With a space agency, we can conduct more research and technological development, including satellite launches that can improve agriculture and other sectors,” — Ing. Forson elaborated.
Attendees and other DARA partner African countries; from Botswana, Namibia, and Zambia [attending the DARA basic training in Ghana] enjoyed engaging activities, including stargazing through optical telescopes to observe the Moon, planets, stars, and galaxies — storytelling that showcased cultural astronomical knowledge and insightful presentations exploring connections between traditional and contemporary astronomy.
It is important to have these events because generally, knowledge, interest, and awareness in the areas of astronomy and planetary and space science in Ghana is very low, and research in these areas is at a minimum
The establishment of the Ghana Space Science and Technology Institute, and the launch of GhanaSat-1 generated some interest in Astronomy and Planetary and Space Science, however, more has to be done to generate more interest, sustain it and build capacity —Dr. Marian Selorm Sapah explained.
The 2024 Fireside skywatch festival was funded by the African Astronomical Society’s Education and Outreach Committee — the festival successfully bridged ancient and modern perspectives on astronomy.
The event also served as a call to action for schools to invite PRAGSAC to establish astronomy and space science clubs, fostering interest among students. Astronomy and space science enthusiasts are also encouraged to join the PRAGSAC team to contribute to its mission.
About DARA
Development in Africa with Radio Astronomy (DARA) is a UK-South Africa initiative aimed at fostering economic growth by developing high-tech skills in radio astronomy across African nations like Ghana, Kenya, and Namibia. Since 2015, DARA has trained over 100 Ghanaian graduates in basic astronomy and astrophysics, awarding over 50 scholarships for advanced studies. The program empowers youth for leadership in space-sector development.
