Minister of Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations Samuel Nartey George has engaged in significant discussions with Madam Celeste Saulo, the Secretary-General of the World Meteorological Organization (WMO), on the sidelines of the WSIS+20 Summit in Geneva. The meeting focused on enhancing meteorological cooperation between Ghana and the international body.
A central point of their deliberations was the improvement of collaboration between the WMO and the Ghana Meteorological Agency (GMet), Ghana’s national authority responsible for providing public weather forecasts, collecting and disseminating meteorological information, and offering expert advice on related matters crucial for public safety and economic planning.
GMet’s services include daily, midweek, and weekly impact-based forecasts for temperature, rainfall, cloud conditions, wind speed, dust, and fog, supporting various sectors like agriculture, aviation, and disaster management.
Furthermore, the discussions explored the potential designation of Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) as a WMO-accredited Regional Training Institution. Such an accreditation would position KNUST as a key center for meteorological, hydrological, and related scientific training in the region, serving the needs of various countries.
The WMO currently recognizes several Regional Training Centres globally, which are vital for capacity building in meteorology.
Another significant topic was the establishment of a Regional Specialized Meteorological Centre (RSMC) on Modelling and Marine meteorology within Ghana. RSMCs play a critical role in the WMO’s World Weather Watch program, responsible for providing specialized meteorological information, advisories, and warnings for specific areas or phenomena. A marine-focused RSMC would be particularly beneficial for Ghana, given its coastline and maritime activities.
Minister Nettey George expressed optimism for the tangible implementation of the discussed initiatives, underscoring Ghana’s commitment to advancing its meteorological capabilities and contributing to regional and global weather and climate initiatives.
Madam Saulo, who assumed her four-year term as the WMO Secretary-General on January 1, 2024, is the first woman and South American to hold the position, with a strong background in numerical weather prediction and climate services. The WSIS+20 Summit itself is a United Nations-driven process to review the outcomes of the World Summit on the Information Society from 2003 and 2005, assessing the effectiveness of information and communication technologies in advancing development.
Ruth Abla ADJORLOLO
