Ghana’s property worth over US$10m, located at Kuntunsi in the Ga West Municipality, is in danger. This is because the facility has been encroached upon.
If the encroachment that has encircled Ghana’s premier satellite dish is allowed to continue, the installation, which is worth over US$10m, could be destroyed. If the key national asset is to be saved, as many as 800 story buildings, bungalows and other structures worth about US$10m will have to fall to the blades of bulldozers.
Ghana’s Satellite Earth Station was started under the Acheampong junta and finished under Hilla Limann, just in time for Ghanaians to view the historic marriage between Charles, Prince of Wales, and Lady Diana on July 29, 1981.
The Kuntunse Satellite Station, which is situated on the Accra – Nsawam Road, is the largest of its kind in Ghana, and second largest in the whole of Africa – second only to another one in South Africa. It has five receiver dishes made of one main dish, two medium dishes and two small dishes.
Kuntunse Satellite dish, which is currently managed by Vodafone Ghana, underwent a major facelift two years ago. In July, 2017 the former communications antenna began work as an astronomical radio telescope. From then, Ghana is expected to launch a satellite dish that will enable scientists from around the world to view and study the world space from Kuntunse.
Indeed, as viewers would recall, the launching of the first phase of the conversion of the telecom dish into a Satellite dish was done under the auspices of President Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo on Thursday, August 24. That made Ghana the second country in Africa to own a satellite dish (properly so-called), after South Africa.
But, there is danger! Ghana is likely to lose the over-US$10million investment at Kuntunse. And, the reason is encroachment!
How are these unapproved buildings destroying the Kuntunse technology installation? Dr Bernard Duah Asabere is a researcher at this station (video above).
So, what went wrong? Who slept on the job for unscrupulous Town and Country Planners to turn a blind eye for reckless individuals to build so closely to this critical national installation?
Our News Crew approached Ga West Municipal Chief Executive Clement Lamptey Wilkinson.
Yes, the Municipal Chief Executive says all the offending structures will soon be pulled down – something that is difficult to do in this country.
In any case, about US$10m – which is what South Africa sunk into the dish only two years ago – is likely to be lost, whether the dish gets destroyed or the buildings are mowed.
Source: Prince Owusu Asiedu
