Climate Atlas Success Central to Ghana’s Adaptation Strategy, Dr. Ignatius Kweku Williams Discloses
The Ghana Meteorological Agency (GMet) has highlighted its progress on the Climate Atlas and other Strategic Sector Cooperation (SSC) tracks during a presentation to staff of the Danish Meteorological Institute (DMI) in Copenhagen, Denmark.
Delivering the presentation on behalf of the team, Climate Atlas track lead Ms. Maureen Abla Ahiataku outlined GMet’s history statutory mandate, and strategic objectives, while situating the Climate Atlas under the SSC within the Agency’s broader focus areas: forecasting and aviation, ISO certification, policy and strategy plan, and IT and digitalization. She demonstrated how GMet’s services from aeronautic to weather forecasts are being strengthened with long-term climate projections (Climate Atlas) through the SSC.
In an open exchange with DMI staff, Acting Deputy Director-General for Operations, Dr. Ignatius Kweku Williams, responded to questions on Ghana’s climate vulnerabilities. He pointed to rising temperatures, unpredictable rainfall, droughts, coastal erosion, and energy insecurity linked to climate variability and change. He also highlighted government measures to strengthen early warning systems and update GMet’s legal framework to enable broader resource mobilization beyond aviation.
Dr. Williams anchored Ghana’s climate service ambitions on the Climate Atlas, emphasizing its centrality to the agency’s mission:
“If we cannot deliver the Climate Atlas, we risk falling short in our mandate to support Ghana’s climate resilience. But if we succeed, Ghana can become a regional reference point for other National Meteorological and Hydrological Services, and even a success story for the World Meteorological Organization.”
His remarks reflected the government’s strong political commitment to amend GMet’s Act, secure new revenue streams, and invest in infrastructure, enabling the agency to operate more autonomously and deliver effectively on its mandate.
The presentation drew praise from the DMI audience, with several staff acknowledging that in less than two years of cooperation, GMet has advanced from concept to concrete results. The session concluded with optimism that the Ghana Climate Atlas will soon serve as a practical, decision-support tool not only for Ghana but also for the wider West African region.
©️GMet Communications