Head of Central Analysis and Forecasting at the Ghana Meteorological Agency (GMet), Felicity Ahafianyo, has called on the public to pay heed to weather forecast warnings by the Agency.

Madam Ahafianyo revealed that being privy to information on the weather will help people amply prepare for their day and also avert any inconvenience due to a change in weather conditions. Justifying why people should express interest in information churned out by the Agency, she indicated that although there has been missed accuracy in time past, the greater part of their predictions have been successful.

“I think that today, most people’s activities have been disrupted, especially the market people. If you get the information, you can prepare ahead of time. If you have an outdoor activity, you could have easily rearranged to an indoor [activity]. So, you need to get the information. If you don’t respect GMet forecast… between now and October, this is the time that you should come. We are not God but we are trying our best to serve mother Ghana. When we give you the forecast too, at times we monitor till the last end. So, if there’s going to be a change… we have our staff on the field, scattered across the country and we have a staff at the headquarters that are always [on the lookout]”.
Felicity Ahafianyo

Commenting on the rains which hit most parts of the capital today, Madam Ahafianyo expressed that other regions should equally anticipate rainfall occurrence. She noted that rainfall is currently widespread in the Greater Accra Region, as the region has experienced some storm.

“The storm is already in the country as we have observed over the capital… Now, it’s over the Central Region and moving into the Western Region. Then the Northern portion one, it has exited into Cote D’Ivoire and Mali. But then there’s a popup we are watching at Burkina Faso which is likely to descend down over the Upper Regions. So, for today, the storms have passed, leaving only cloudiness and slight rain over some places”.
Felicity Ahafianyo

Predicting weather conditions

To ensure better coverage and predictability of weather conditions, Madam Ahafianyo noted that GMet is trying to improve on its forecasts and ensure its more “visible and reliable”, for the general public to comprehend.

“We said there will be normal rain over some areas and then some will have late onsets. We all know Greater Accra last year, we had rain in parts of March. I think this is the first time we are getting something like this for the whole region. Yes, the rains have started and we are going to experience more of this. But then, the frequency, at times it can be seven days before we will see another of this nature. But doesn’t mean that there will not be rain again. Those of us precisely over the Northern portions of the coastal line will be getting one or two rains before another well organised system will push across”.
Felicity Ahafianyo

In its bid to ensure farmers are not out of the loop, Madam Ahafianyo expressed that the Agency has a special “agro-meteorological unit”, dedicated to release updates on rainfall patterns to farmers.

“So, we have the 10-days forecast for them, we have the 14-days forecast for them and then the monthly forecast. So, they should just get closer to us and they will get it. We have it and we send it to them via sms too. We have the fisher folks too that we send the information to. So, GMet, we are ready for you Ghana. So, please just get closer to us, visit our website and whatever you are looking for, just request and we will get them to you”.
Felicity Ahafianyo