Ghana Meteorological Board Inaugurated

Mr. Haruna Iddrisu, Minister for Communications, on Thursday inaugurated the Ghana Meteorological Agency (GMet) Board and called on members to pursue the core functions of weather forecast for the safety of aircrafts, ocean going vessels, oil rigs and other socio economic activities.

     
“The provision of timely weather forecast is very crucial as we need such information to save lives from occurrences of floods and other hazardous perils,” he said.

     
Mr. Iddrisu said global warming and climate change were some of the challenges of the Agency which had occurred because of careless human-induced actions.

     
He said their effects on the environment called for new strategic directions to provide insights into what governments, companies and the citizens must do to address them.

     
He said GMet's request to replace obsolete equipment such as radar to meet global standard would be considered and noted that Ghana would benefit from an expansion programme of GMet under an agreement with the United States Trade and Development Agency.

      
He said he had confidence in the Board, considering their scientific, environmental, aeronautic, technological, and management backgrounds.

     
Members of the Board include Prof. Edwin A Gyasi, retired Professor of Geography and Resource Development, University of Ghana (Chairman), Mr. Michael Tanu, Director General of GMet, Mr. Nicholas A. Gbekor-Kove, Ms. Cynthia Amerley Amarteifio, Ms. Georgina Jopap-Tackie and Mr. J.N.A Nunoo.

     
The rest were Mr. Jonas S. Quaye, Dr. Kankam Yeboah, Mr. Ben Yaw Ampomah and Mr. Newton Gatsiko.

      
Professor Gyasi on behalf of the Board affirmed their commitment to work together and lift GMet to higher levels.

      
He said he would motivate the workers, review their capacity and strengthen the institutional capability of the agency.

     
Prof Gyasi said the board would work in collaboration with Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) and academia.