Ghana Meteorological Agency

Ghana Meteorological Agency (GMet) is a governmental agency under the Ministry of Communication mandated to offer weather and climate services, to analyze scientific research findings and provide guidance on climate change.[1]

Ghana Meteorological Agency
Agency overview
JurisdictionGovernment of Ghana
Agency executive
Parent departmentMinistry of Communication(Ghana)
Websitewww.meteo.gov.gh/gmet

It is a certified ISO 9001: 2015 weather forecast institution with its headquarters in Accra.[2]

History

The agency was established in 2004 by The Ghana Metrological Agency Act, 2004 Act 682 to replace the Ghana Meteorological Service Department,[3] the later was establish in 1937 in the Gold Coast.

Observation of weather patterns started in the 1830s around Aburi Gardens in the Eastern Region by the Basel Mission. In 1886, the British colonial government setup three climatological stations along the coast of the colony, its operations were entrusted to the Medical departments.

With 14 synoptic stations in 1957, it has increased to 25, with 210 approximate stations. These stations can be located in Navorongo, Accra, Wenchi, Sunyani, Kete-krachi, Yendi, Kumasi, Koforidua, Ho, Abetifi, Akatsi, Takoradi, Saltpond, Big-Ada, Akuse, Sefwi-Bekwai, Axim, Akim-Oda, Abetifi, Tarkwa, Enchi and Akosombo.[4][5] The agency is financed under the National Meteorological Fund.[3]

Departments

The Agency has the following departments;

  • Synoptic Meteorology and Forecasting
  • Support Services
  • Research and Applied Meteorology
  • Engineering
  • Basic Network and Data Processing

Meteorological services

The Ghana Meteorological Agency provides meteorological services to the general public through daily weather forecasts. It also provides specialized services to other agencies and institutions, these include:

  • 10 day rainfall bulletin to Water Research Institute (WRI)
  • Keeps meteorological watch -over the Flight Information Region for the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority
  • Rainfall and Evaporation data for management of the hydro-electric dams at Akosombo and Kpong to the Volta River Authority
  • Briefing of trainee pilots and pilots of the Ghana Military Aviation
  • Maritime weather to the Ghana Navy
  • Six hourly maritime weather forecasts to ships both on high seas and in Port Operations on weather warnings, sea surface temperatures.

Heads of Meteorological Organization

The current Director-General is Dr. Michael Tanu.[2]

References
  1. "Ghana Meteorological Agency (GMA) | Ministry of Communications". www.moc.gov.gh. Retrieved 2020-12-01.
  2. "Ghana Meteorological Agency meets ISO international standards". Graphic Online. Retrieved 2020-12-01.
  3. "GHANA METEOROLOGICAL AGENCY ACT, 2004" (PDF).
  4. "The map of Ghana showing all the GMet Synoptic-Stations".
  5. "Ghana Meteorological Agency gets 10 automatic weather stations". Graphic Online. Retrieved 2020-12-02.
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