GMet Organizes Media Training on VOLTALARM System to Strengthen Alert Dissemination
Foreign Desk
The Ghana Meteorological Agency (GMet), the Ghana Hydrological Authority (GHA), and the Water Resources Commission (WRC) have collaborated under the Volta Basin Flood and Drought Management (VFDM) project to organize a training on the VOLTALARM system bulletin to strengthen alert dissemination and enhance capacity of Local Officers and Stakeholders.
The 3-day program, which was organized at the Modern City Hotel in Tamale, aimed to develop a national response to flood risk information and warnings through increased coordination between national hydrometeorological services, management authorities, disaster risk management, and other relevant authorities at the national and sub-regional levels. This will enable communication and dissemination of warnings based on hydrometeorological impact to vulnerable communities and enable early action measures.
The training was attended by participants from the Northern, North East, Upper West, and Upper East Regions of Ghana, including farmers, extension officers, media, disaster managers, traders, fisheries, and artisans. The workshop provided hands-on exercises and training in the interpretation of the VOLTALARM Bulletin to guarantee that users have an excellent understanding of the process.
The Chairman of the Governing Board of the Ghana Meteorological Agency, Hon. Isaac George Amoo, in his address, expressed gratitude to the stakeholders and participants for their continued support and guidance as they navigated the complexities of climate change adaptation in the Volta Basin.
The Ag. Director-General of the Agency, Mr. Eric Asuman, indicated that the workshop will enable participants to develop a communication strategy for conveying alerts and messages related to climate, water, and weather forecasts and delve into existing alert dissemination mechanisms. He also used the occasion to admonish participants, especially media personnel, to serve as ambassadors in propagating the operations and activities of the agency.
Mr. Joshua Asamoah, a senior meteorologist with the Agency, highlighted in his presentation that the Volta Basin is majorly affected by events such as floods and droughts, and these events are projected to increase due to the changes in the climate. He stressed the importance of warning individuals and communities ahead of time for improved preparedness and resilience towards these extreme events.
The training has equipped the participants with a set of knowledge and skills that can effectively combat the risks of extreme weather events and enhance the resilience of vulnerable communities, making them better prepared to face any challenges that come their way. The application of this knowledge and skills will help reduce the impact of natural disasters and save lives.
Credit: GMet Communications
