Principal meteorologist at the Ghana Meteorological Agency (GMet), Nana Kofi Poku, has urged the public to pay heed to weather forecast updates provided by the Agency on its platform.
According to him, the frequency of updates given by the Agency is to furnish the public with better revelations on weather conditions in the country to help them plan their day better. He revealed that in understanding the importance of updates, his outfit issues forecasts three times in a day on its websites and various social media handles.
“We have about eleven WhatsApp group, we mail it to the various media houses, we have stakeholders such as NADMO, military, the Ghana Police – major stakeholders we mail these forecasts to them three times in a day. So, if you follow through the forecasts, you’ll capture the events that is likely to happen in your area. The warning is just to alert you that we are confirming with certainty that the event that we forecasted [will occur]. The truth is you need to use the forecast to plan. If I tell you there’s a 60% chance of an event occurring, it behooves on you to plan with it.”
Nana Kofi Poku
Commenting on the downpour which occurred last week and resulted in the loss of lives and properties, Mr Poku indicated that the Agency only provides updates when the event gets closer and there’s more certainty of the event that is about to occur. He explained that whether it is dissipating or strengthening, particularly the area around which the storm is passing, the Agency should be able to alert people quickly.
Nonetheless, he underscored that the issuance of update by the Agency could have prepared Ghanaians better if they had prior knowledge.
“Normally, we issue three weather forecasts in a day: the morning, afternoon and evening forecasts. Now, warnings are issued as and when we get close to the event occurring. That is when the one who is keeping watch over the [forecast] notices that all things being equal, there’s a very high percentage that the event is occurring…”
Nana Kofi Poku
GMet to rollout app for Ghanaians
Elaborating on the reason why the Agency doesn’t have an app to necessitate prompt delivery of notices to the public, Mr Poku stated that his outfit is making necessary arrangements to ensure the rollout of the app. He stated that it has had series of meetings with the ministry of communication and digitalization and plans are far advanced to implement it.
Additionally, Mr Poku highlighted that the Agency is equally in talks with the National Communication Authority to see how best to ensure its efficiency. However, he explained that there are people also living in obscure areas in the country who may not have access to such innovations. In light of this, he revealed that there is the need to reach them through voice notes in their local languages.
“You need to have a structure, artificial intelligence and the underlying internet and things that supports the structure so that on any occasion that you find yourself, you can easily just click on the app, and you get whatever the weather will be at a place. Unfortunately, as it is now, we don’t have it… All these things are being worked on.
“There’s a certain app that we are coming up with which we will be able to record events that we will be recording in different areas of the country and anyone that subscribes to the short code will be able to get what we have in the morning, afternoon and evening…”
Nana Kofi Poku
Furthermore, the principal meteorologist emphasized then need for more sophisticated equipment for the Agency to undertake its duties. He admitted that although there are equipmet to carry out forecasts, more can be done.
Additionally, Mr Poku urged the public to remain cautious during the Month of March, June and July as the raining season beckons. He however revealed that these events are not unusual as the have been occurring in the past.
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