Drought, bushfires loom: Agriculture under threat - GMeT predicts

Prolonged dry spells are expected to hit many parts of the country at the start and end of this year’s rainy season, potentially leading to severe drought that could disrupt agriculture, heighten the risk of bushfires and threaten water availability.

According to the 2025 seasonal forecast by the Ghana Meteorological Agency (GMet), which covers the March-April-May (MAM) and April-May-June (AMJ) periods, the dry spells could last between eight and 16 days across various regions.

Early dry spell

The forecast predicts that at the beginning of the season, the southern sector is expected to experience dry spells ranging from eight to 13 days.

In the transition zone, areas such as Wenchi and Kintampo will experience 10 days of dry spells, while Kete Krachi could endure 11 days without rain.

In the forest zone, most areas will have nine days of dry spells, with exceptions including Mim, Bechem, Enchi, and Kpando, which will experience 10 days without rain.

The coastal areas, particularly Accra, Tema, Ada and Akatsi, are expected to endure the longest early dry spells, ranging between 10 and 13 days.

Late dry spell

As the rainy season draws to a close, the GMet forecasts that the southern parts of the country would experience dry spells ranging from 10 to 14 days, with some areas facing even longer durations.

Wenchi, Bui and Sefwi Bekwai are expected to be the hardest hit, with dry spells lasting 14 to 16 days.

Conversely, Kumasi, Mim, and Tarkwa will record the shortest late dry spells, ranging between eight and 10 days.

Awareness month

The Deputy Director and Head of Research and Applied Meteorology of GMet, Francisca Martey, presented the forecast at the launch of Meteorological Awareness Month last Monday.

As part of this year’s activities, GMet is expanding its outreach beyond traditional media engagements by taking its awareness campaign directly to markets, streets, bus stations and local communities.

Officials will engage with the public, distribute infographics and educate people on the seasonal forecast and climate conditions.

Additionally, GMet will engage key institutions, including the Ga Traditional Council, Parliament and climate-focused groups, to present the seasonal forecast and provide updates on the state of the climate.

A major highlight of this year’s activities is the introduction of the “Dawuro Campaign”, aimed at translating the seasonal forecast into local languages and sharing it through television, radio, and animation videos.

Potential impacts

Mrs Martey warned that the long dry spells could disrupt farming activities, especially for crops that required consistent rainfall.

She, therefore, advised farmers to adopt drought-resistant crop varieties and implement irrigation strategies to sustain crop yields.

The GMet Deputy Director and Head of Research and Applied Meteorology also urged the public to store water during the rainy periods to prepare for the dry spells.

Mrs Martey also advised farmers to engage with agricultural extension officers for guidance on managing weather-related risks.

In addition, she said the risk of bushfires was expected to increase, particularly in drier areas.

She, therefore, urged authorities to step up public education on fire safety measures to prevent wildfires.

She also urged them to monitor and control illegal burning of farmlands, which could worsen the situation.

“We advise all stakeholders, including farmers, local authorities and disaster management agencies to stay updated on weather advisories and take necessary precautions to reduce climate-related risks”.

“The public is also encouraged to follow GMet’s official forecasts and advisories,” Mrs Martey said.

Growing threats

The Director-General of GMet, Eric Asuman, highlighted the growing threats posed by extreme weather events and the urgent need for enhanced early warning systems.

He said the escalating frequency and intensity of extreme weather events, climate variability and climate change impacts, including floods, droughts, rising temperatures, coastal inundation and air pollution, were of great concern for the nation.

He also referenced findings from the 2023 World Meteorological Organisation (WMO) State of Climate in Africa Report, which revealed that African nations lose between two and five per cent of their Gross Domestic Products (GDP) annually due to climate-related disasters.

Drawing from Ghana’s experience, Mr Asuman cited the 2015 twin disaster, the 2023 Akosombo dam spillage and the recent prolonged dry spells in the northern part of the country as clear examples of how extreme weather events disrupted lives and forced the government to divert unplanned resources for relief efforts.

To mitigate those challenges, he proposed that the Ghana Statistical Service (GSS) should develop an economic indicator for weather and climate services, which would help policymakers to integrate climate risks into economic planning and decision-making.