The woman by the name of Christina Hammock Koch on
NASA's Artemis II crew is reportedly the mission specialist and the only woman on the first crewed mission to the Moon in over 50 years (launched in early April 2026). The Artemis II programme by NASA is the first of its kind to orbit around the moon, aside from going to the moon. She happens to be the first woman to travel to the Moon (flying around it, not landing on it on this mission), and this makes her the first woman to venture beyond low Earth orbit and circle the Moon. Notably, no woman has walked on the Moon yet; all 12 Apollo Moonwalkers were men, but Koch's flight is a major milestone for NASA's Artemis II programme, which will land the first woman and first person of colour on the lunar surface in future missions.
Kock previously attended the University of Ghana, Lagon, as part of a one-year exchange programme with her home university. Her intercontinental education experience, with none other than Africa, and specifically Ghana, has left a lasting impression on her, as evidenced by her carrying the Ghana flag with her on the mission. Every Ghanaian is chalantly full of delight with the gesture in gratitude by Kock to unweavingly acknowledge the grandiose impact Lagon, as our prime university, has had on her education today.
Nevertheless, the goal of this article is not to extol any individual or institution but to prick our conscience so that we can begin to see why Kock's appreciation should be replicated better beyond Lagon, assuming they even have such a plan, which I seriously doubt. I see the scenario championed by the female astronaut citizens as a great favour, in that for a country like ours to still struggle to build toilets for its citizens and the national flag can only be hoisted at sea level, and then suddenly, out of nowhere, it is flying on the lunar surface; it must be miraculous.
To me, the flag's journey to the moon is meaningless if our generation continues to struggle with open defecation and related environmental pollution. More importantly, does it have to take a foreigner to open our eyes to see the value and capability of our institutions as we sit unknowingly? Surely, this is a palpable colossal indictment of our failure to comprehend our own nature.
The University of Ghana, Legon, and, indeed, the Republic of Ghana, must make plans to honour Christiana Kock upon her return from her mission to Earth. She has accomplished what Napoleon could not, and this must teach us a valuable lesson: if you are unable to do something for yourself and someone else does it for you, the least you can do is express gratitude. I bet there is no such arrangement backstage for Kock. We have always behaved like newly hatched crows or sparrows, opening our beaks wide to only receive food from the mother. The narrative must change now. Appreciate her as she deserves, and you will be amazed by the blessing that follows.
It is striking to note that recognising the efforts of those who support us can foster deeper connections and mutual respect. By shifting our perspective and acknowledging their contributions, Christiana Kock, we invite more positivity and abundance into our lives. Least we forget, as we gaze at the stars and celebrate distant achievements, we must also confront the pressing issues at home that demand our attention. Still struggling to build KVIPs for citizens in this time and age is a low key for me. It is time for us to harness our potential and take ownership of the challenges we face, transforming our pride in exploration into a commitment to improve life on Earth. That is the way to go, comrades.
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