Ghana Prepares To Enter The Radio Telescope Era

Written by Ann Brown

Oct 27, 2013

Seven Ghanaians arrived in South Africa last week to begin training on the independent operation and maintenance of radio telescopes in Africa.

Using a miniature version of a radio telescope, they will learn how to design, build, operate and maintain an African telescope network that will support the scientific and technical activities of the Square Kilometre Array (SKA). The training will give them technical skills that are widely applicable, even outside radio astronomy.

According to Joyce Koranteng-Acquah, a research scientist at the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission (GAEC), the SKA is set to improve the lives of the average Ghanaian through the provision of jobs, infrastructure and tourism. She has just arrived in South Africa for SKA-related training, which she hopes will equip her with the skills she needs to eventually help coordinate the Ghana Radio Astronomy Project (GRAP).