GMet Certifies 55 Meteorologists

The Ghana Meteorological Agency (GMet) on Friday, 30 January 2026, successfully certified 55 meteorologists in forecasting competency and aeronautical meteorology at a ceremony held at the Embassy of Denmark in Ghana, marking the climax of a week-long high-level mission by a Danish delegation to the Agency.

The certification ceremony forms one of the key outcomes under the Strategic Sector Cooperation (SSC) between Ghana and Denmark, specifically within the Forecasting and Early Warning component aimed at strengthening institutional capacity within Ghana’s meteorological services. The programme has been implemented over the past two years with the support of the Embassy of Denmark in Ghana.

The ceremony brought together key stakeholders from both countries, including the Ambassador of Denmark to Ghana, His Excellency Jakob Linulf; Board Chairman of GMet, Selassie Woanyah Esq.; Director-General of DMI, Ms. Marianne Thyrring, and members of her delegation; Deputy Director-General (Operations) of GMet, Dr. Ignatius Kweku Williams; Deputy Director-General (Support Services), Ms. Vivian Abla Kally; other members of GMet management; trainers; and the newly certified meteorologists.

Delivering the welcome address, Dr. Ignatius Kweku Williams explained that the gathering was to formally conclude a major competency-building initiative undertaken jointly by GMet and DMI. He noted that through the Strategic Sector Cooperation programme, several GMet staff had undergone intensive training in meteorology, including aviation forecasting, to ensure the Agency maintains high operational standards.

Dr. Williams emphasized that the programme was inclusive, extending beyond GMet’s headquarters to cover outstations across the country. Meteorologists from areas such as Wa and Bolgatanga and the likes were given the opportunity to participate, ensuring nationwide capacity enhancement. He added that GMet’s aviation meteorological services had significantly benefited from the training.

He highlighted the sustainability of the initiative, noting that it had gone beyond reliance on external expertise to successfully adopt a train-the-trainer model. Currently, about eight trained trainers within GMet are now leading internal training programmes, strengthening institutional self-reliance.

In her remarks, Ms. Marianne Thyrring, Director-General of DMI, underscored the importance of certification in meteorology. She explained that certification confers professional authority and responsibility, allowing meteorologists to perform functions that are critical not only to GMet but to national development and public safety.

She stressed that certified meteorologists hold this authority on behalf of GMet and the citizens of Ghana, particularly at a time when climate change and severe weather events are increasingly affecting the country. She also highlighted the link between certification and sustained funding for aviation meteorological services, noting that certification is essential for GMet’s role as a service provider.

Ms. Thyrring cautioned that certification is not a one-time achievement, but a continuous obligation that requires constant competence development, evaluation, retraining, and recertification. She commended GMet’s leadership for prioritizing training despite the demanding 24/7 nature of meteorological work and praised the strong collaboration between DMI and GMet teams throughout the programme.

Addressing participants, Ambassador Jakob Linulf described the occasion as special and significant for both Ghana and Denmark. He praised Ghana as a peaceful and welcoming country, while acknowledging the serious challenges posed by climate change, particularly in northern Ghana where changing weather patterns are affecting livelihoods and settlement patterns.

The Ambassador emphasized that Ghana’s ability to adapt to and mitigate climate change depends heavily on accurate weather forecasting and climate assessment. He described the certified meteorologists as critical to Ghana’s future development and to the strong bilateral relationship between Denmark and Ghana. He congratulated all awardees on their achievement and their contribution to national progress.

Speaking on behalf of DMI’s technical team, Mr. Kristian, the lead for the programme, reflected on the progress made over the past 18 months. He noted that within a relatively short period, GMet had successfully built a self-sustaining training and assessment structure, enabling the Agency to train, assess, and certify its own meteorologists.

He encouraged the newly certified meteorologists to see themselves as future trainers who would mentor the next generation of professionals within GMet. He thanked participants for their commitment, emphasizing that their dedication was the key factor behind the programme’s success.

Mr. Joseph Tetteh Portuphy, Team Lead for GMet on the programme, described the initiative as a challenging but rewarding journey. He praised the determination and hard work of participants, noting that many achieved outstanding results during the competency examinations.

He reiterated that certification is part of a continuous process, explaining that competency examinations are conducted every five years, with additional training introduced whenever new developments arise in the field of meteorology.

Delivering his remarks, Board Chairman Selassie Woanyah Esq. challenged the young meteorologists to see themselves as the future of GMet and agents of transformation. He highlighted the rapid changes brought by technology and artificial intelligence, urging staff to adapt and innovate to avoid being left behind.

He encouraged the Agency’s younger staff to increase GMet’s visibility by leveraging digital platforms such as social media and live-streaming services to communicate weather information to the public. According to him, GMet plays a critical role in sectors such as aviation, agriculture, maritime operations, and construction, and must ensure its work is visible and impactful.

Speaking on behalf of the certified meteorologists, Ms. Muriel Gyanewa Omari expressed gratitude to the Embassy of Denmark, GMet and DMI leadership, trainers, and management teams. She acknowledged the intensity of the training and the challenges of information overload but noted that perseverance had led to success. She assured stakeholders that the newly acquired knowledge would be put to effective use to improve forecasting services and strengthen GMet’s contribution to national development.

The certification of 55 meteorologists marks a major milestone in Ghana’s meteorological capacity development and reinforces the long-standing partnership between Ghana and Denmark. The initiative not only enhances professional standards within GMet but also establishes a sustainable framework for continuous training, evaluation, and service excellence in the face of growing climate and weather-related challenges.

©️GMet Communications