COP 28: Director-General of GMet advocates for Resources & Improved Collaborations.
Foreign Desk
On Wednesday, 6th December, 2023, the Acting Director-General of the Ghana Meteorological Agency joined experts at the Ministry of Finance’s event under the theme “Harnessing Resilience, Navigating Finance: Unpacking the Akosombo Paradigm” which was organized on the sides of COP 28 ongoing in Dubai.
Speaking at the event, Mr. Asuman emphasized the pivotal role of weather and climate services in the socio-economic development of the nation, hence the need to consciously resource GMet to deliver reliable and timely climate and weather services, essential for supporting the country’s socio-economic growth. He also shared insights on enhancing predictability of extreme weather events through shared collaboration between stakeholder Agencies.
In his address, Mr. Asuman reiterated the positive working relationship between GMet and the Volta River Authority (VRA), detailing the specific paid services provided to VRA, including seasonal forecasts, advisories for both dry and rainy seasons, and cumulative rainfall information.
Stressing the need for inter-Agency collaborations, Mr. Asuman highlighted GMet’s pioneering role in implementing the HYDRO SOS program in partnership with the Ghana Hydrological Authority and the UK Center for Ecology and Hydrology. This groundbreaking initiative aims to forecast streamflow accurately 2 to 3 months ahead, enabling the provision of early warnings to VRA and other stakeholders based on comprehensive readings and analysis of streamflow, water level, and other parameters.
Responding to the Volta Basin Project, Mr. Asuman stressed the need to view the Volta Basin holistically, encompassing several countries, including Burkina Faso, Benin, Togo, Ivory Coast, Mali, Niger, and Ghana. He emphasized that attributing the rising levels of the Akosombo Dam solely to Ghana’s rainfall activities is insufficient, highlighting the cumulative impact of all countries in the Volta Basin.
Importantly, Mr. Asuman delved into the specifics of the Volta Basin Project, addressing the spillage of the Akosombo Dam. He indicated that a more extensive network of monitoring stations across the Volta Basin could have facilitated a more nuanced analysis, potentially preventing the unfortunate incident. He bemoaned the insufficient equipment, such as the shortage of synoptic stations needed for accurate readings, emphasizing the need for investment in infrastructure.
In his concluding remarks, Mr. Asuman passionately advocated for the proper resourcing of GMet and other climate stakeholder institutions. He emphasized that with the right resources, these entities can fulfill their core mandates and collectively contribute to pushing the socio-economic development of the nation. Reflecting on the Akosombo Dam spillage, Mr. Asuman reiterated the preventable nature of such events with adequate resources, stressing the importance of accurate analysis for early warnings and climate change mitigation.
(GMet Communications)
