Denmark and Ghana Collaborate on Weather and Climate Services

On January 30th, 2024, the Royal Danish Embassy in Accra, the Ghana Meteorological Agency (GMet), the Danish Meteorological Institute (DMI), launched the Strategic Sector Cooperation agreement on Meteorology and Climate at a brief Ceremony organized at the residence of the Danish Ambassador to Ghana.

Hon. Ama Pomaa Boateng, the Deputy Minister of Communications and Digitalization, who represented the Minister, commended the initiative, emphasizing the significance of international cooperation in addressing global challenges. “Today, we are all faced with extreme climate and weather characteristics and global challenges, and therefore collaborations and partnerships such as this have become imperative to mutually develop the needed resilience of each country to help the citizens. Undeniably, these collaborations enable us to recognize the synergies that exist between us to aid pooling of resources, expertise and aspirations to drive innovation, economic growth and more critically, social development,” she said.

Mr. Eric Asuman, the Ag. Director-General of GMet, stressed the urgency of addressing climate change. “The urgency of this challenge cannot be overstated. We are already witnessing the devastating impacts of climate change, from scorching droughts that threaten our agricultural heartland to unpredictable rainfall patterns that disrupt our food security. Rising sea levels and extreme weather events are no longer distant threats; they are the harsh reality of our present.

H.E. Tom Norring, the Danish Ambassador, acknowledged Ghana’s vulnerability to climate change and Denmark’s commitment to supporting climate action. “With this sector collaboration, Denmark will support Ghana to adapt to climate change, and thereby spearhead climate actions for the green transition in agriculture, renewable energy, environmental protection, and urban development”.

Marianne Vendel Thyrring, the Director-General of DMI, highlighted their commitment to developing a Climate Atlas. This comprehensive resource will project physical changes in climate parameters such as precipitation, temperature, and sea level rise under different global greenhouse gas emission scenarios, providing localized quantitative data.

This collaboration is a testament to the power of international cooperation in addressing shared challenges and fostering sustainable development. Denmark’s expertise in water management, maritime development, and statistics is already empowering Ghana to improve infrastructure, efficiency, and governance. As Ghana and Denmark join forces, this collaboration not only builds resilience but also opens doors to economic growth and investment and strengthens diplomatic relations.

The key priority areas for this collaboration include, Climate Atlas Development, Regional Climate Modeling, Economic Impact Assessment of GMet, Forecasting Training, NWP (WRF) and Data Assimilation, Data Management and Gap filling, Instrumentation, Data Processing, Information Technology and Communication.