Ghana Meteorological Agency enacts digital reforms to improve weather,climate information

The Ghana Meteorological Agency (GMet) has introduced some far-reaching technological initiatives to provide timely and accurate weather and climate information services to accelerate Ghana’s socioeconomic development. The reform efforts would see the automation and digitization of GMet data for efficient weather and climate information services, as well as data collection and analysis for effective end-user dissemination. ‘Mr. Eric Asuma, Director-General of the Ghana Meteorological Agency, stated this at a stakeholder workshop on Nowcasting Flood Impacts of Convective Storms in the Sahel (NFLICS) in Ghana. The Agency, in collaboration with the United Kingdom Centre for Ecology and Hydrology, organized the workshop in Koforidua to pilot the NFLICS early warning system over the Gulf of Guinea, particularly in Ghana. Forecasters are expected to enhance their skills to be able to use the NFLICS system to generate nowcast flood impacts over Ghana. The NFLICS is also to guide policymakers and disaster management institutions in their efforts to protect lives and property. Mr. Asuma told the Ghana News Agency that it was critical for GMET to develop and maintain a strong working relationship with other agencies, such as the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) to reduce the impact of disasters. “They [NADMO] are our key stakeholders and a direct ally of ours. When we come out with our forecasts, NADMO is interested like the forecasts we issue, especially when we issue a weather warning,” he explained. Early warning is an integral part of GMet duties, and the World Meteorological Organisation is pushing for early warning. Research has also shown approximately 40 percent of the populations in Africa do not receive early warnings. But to be efficient in weather and climate information | services, Mr. Asuma noted that the work called for the acquisition and application of modern equipment to collect, analyze, and disseminate data, as well as building the capacity of personnel. “We are automating; gradually, every piece of equipment that we are buying is automatic and will save, record, and transmit very reliable, timely weather information for forecasters to analyze,” he said. He further mentioned that there had been tremendous improvement in the operations of GMet over the last few years, particularly since 2018. He said the government bought transformers, 10 automatic weather stations, and 12 automatic weather equipment, including a message-switching system to take all weather information and transmit it to the global telecommunications system. “This helps for water, flood, and draught management, which assist GMet to run models and get some service,” he added, “as well as build a robust database for meteorologists to do analysis.” GMet is also working to digitize its data through a national adaptation programme under the Environmental Protection Agency that would see data from 60 years or so ago being archived for easy retrieval. According to him, clearance was received to recruit close to 300 staff, particularly scientists, researchers, and meteorologists. Mr. Joshua Asamoah, a meteorologist, said the training aimed to validate NFLICS tools as well, but added that “the more models or tools you have in forecasting, the higher your confidence or probability for a prediction or event.” The nowcasting tools would also enable forecasters to see what was happening right now for about six hours, stating: “There are many tools that are already being used to develop this type of forecast,’ he explained, “but this new one will complement the old ones to improve the probability of predicting weather and climate events.” The nowcasting, according to Nana Kweigyah, President of the Canoe and Fishing Gear Owners’ Association of Ghana, would help canoe owners in Ghana’s four coastal areas participate effectively in fisheries management and governance. He stated that climate change had increased the vulnerability of small-scale fishers by increasing the number of bad weather days and that their reliance on weather forecasts would boost their fishing expeditions. “You cannot go fishing if the weather is inclement. Now, bad weather also translates into a bad pushing state or dangerous rough pushing state, and you cannot go on a fishing expedition at such times,” he said. “So, we usually go fishing based on the weather. Just last year, between March and April, about 70 canoes were damaged,’ he added. “We have relied on the Ghana Meteorological Agency for ocean state information to decide whether or not to go to sea.” SOURCE:GNA