Ghana Launches National Framework for Climate Services, National Meteorological Society
Introduction of Interim Executives of National Meteorological Society at the launch.
On March 23, 2023, the Ghana Meteorological Agency (GMet), with support from the Feed the Future (FtF) Policy LINK Activity, launched the National Framework for Climate Services (NFCS) and the National Meteorological Society to cap the Agency’s maiden month-long commemoration of the 2023 Meteorological Awareness Month.
The launch of these two initiatives, which coincided with World Meteorological Day, came on the heels of a workshop Policy LINK organized in January 2023, which brought together stakeholder groups in the production, delivery, and use of climate information services (CIS). The participants discussed, among other things, the NFCS, which outlines guidelines for improving CIS delivery.
Panelists discussing the National Framework for Climate Services (NFCS).
Two critical issues highlighted during the discussions were inadequate stakeholder awareness of the framework and the need to establish, in accordance with recommendations of the World Meteorological Organization, a National Meteorological Society to contribute to the implementation of the framework. The society will provide a common platform for meteorologists, climate scientists, and other stakeholders to discuss the effective use of meteorological information in addressing societal challenges, including climate change.
In his opening remarks, Mr. George Amoh, Board Chair for GMet, said that climate change is affecting every facet of human life and existence. The Agency, therefore, is actively working to increase public awareness of its functions, its role in national development, and the contributions citizens can make to forestall the worsening effects of climate change.
“We [GMet] recently launched climate clubs in senior high schools with the goal of engendering students’ interest in climate change adaptation and associated mitigation measures,” he said. “As the Agency advances its work and mandate, and with the support of stakeholders, it will accelerate its role in delivering accurate and timely weather information and climate services to contribute to protecting lives, properties, and livelihoods,” Mr. Amoh added.
Speaking on behalf of the Minister of Communication and Digitalization, Mr. Alfred Nortey, Director for Research Statistics & Information Management at the Ministry, said the launch of the NFCS and the National Meteorological Society marks a significant milestone for Ghana.
“If we rigorously pursue the objectives of this framework as much as we are concerned about climate change, it will be instrumental in supporting evidence-based decisions and policy-making in Ghana,” he said, adding that “establishing this Society will provide the resources we hope for the country and GMet to improve its advisory role to the government on meteorology and climate-related matters.”
Mr. Nortey commended the USAID-supported FtF Policy LINK Activity for identifying with and assisting the GMet to undertake activities to address climate-related issues. He pledged that the Ministry would continue to offer the necessary guidance to support the effective implementation of the NFCS.
For his part, Mr. Yunus Abdulai, Ghana Country Lead for Policy LINK, noted that there are teething challenges related to the production, delivery, and usage of CIS. He expressed the Activity’s commitment to work with GMet and other stakeholders to strengthen coordination and the delivery of CIS, particularly to the smallholder farmers who are increasingly dependent on this information to improve their farming activities and livelihoods.
“We will continue to support this process beyond the launch to determine how we can operationalize the framework to help those who need it the most,” he concluded.