Govt boosts GMeT operations with new equipment

The Ministry of Communications and Digitalisation has provided logistical support to the Ghana Meteorological Agency (GMeT) to enhance its operational capabilities for more efficient climate and weather monitoring. 

The support, which is part of the $5.5 million Ghana Digital Acceleration Project (GDAP), is also aimed at digitalising the agency’s operations.

The equipment include three pick-up trucks, 35 laptops, 120 tablets, 40 desktop computers, three servers, 35 smart screens and 10 advertising screens.

The rest are 10 printers, 10 air conditioners, 40 executive swivel chairs, 23 workstations, 25 file cabinets and other office accessories.

Timely and accurate weather information

At the presentation ceremony in Accra yesterday, the Minister of Communications and Digitalisation, Ursula Owusu-Ekuful, congratulated GMeT’s management on its proactive approach and commitment to the agency’s mandate under GDAP.

She highlighted GMeT’s progress on its e-Climate Project, saying it was one of the few organisations that was achieving significant milestones under the initiative.

She emphasised the critical role climate and weather services played in Ghana’s socio-economic development, stressing that timely and accurate weather information was essential for safeguarding lives, agriculture, infrastructure and businesses.

Mrs Owusu-Ekuful said in today’s rapidly evolving world, digitalisation was crucial to the effectiveness of climate and weather services as it enhanced data collection and real-time analysis, resulting in more precise forecasts and climate models.

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The minister reaffirmed the government’s commitment to modernising weather services for a resilient, climate-smart future, highlighting the urgency of reliable weather data due to increasingly unpredictable weather patterns.

With the new equipment, she said GMeT was now better equipped to monitor real-time weather conditions, improve early warning systems and provide more accurate forecast.

“This will enhance disaster preparedness, support agriculture, aviation and maritime activities, and ultimately help protect lives, as well as livelihoods across the country,” the minister said. 

Quality and reliability

The Director-General of the GMeT, Eric Asuman, said the presentation of the equipment marked another milestone in the journey towards improving the quality and reliability of the weather and climate services.

Some vehicles and equipment that were presented to GMET

He acknowledged that the equipment was a significant milestone in improving the quality and reliability of weather and climate services.

He said many of GMeT’s stations had been facing challenges in transmitting data due to a lack of computers and servers, and that the new equipment would help address those issues.

Mr Asuman also highlighted the agency’s achievements, including national and international partnerships with the Danish Meteorological Institute, the Italian Meteorological Service, and the UK Centre.

He said GMeT was automating operations through the implementation of an Integrated Management Information System (IMIS), which would streamline processes for generating and disseminating weather forecasts.

He further pointed out that GMeT’s internally generated funds (IGF) had grown from GH¢ 3 million in 2022 to GH¢89 million in 2024.

“With all these achievements, I am certain that with continued support from the government, partners and the staff, GMeT will soon become a world-class meteorological institution,” Mr Asuman said.