GMet Pays Courtesy Call on Ho Technical University Following Commissioning of Automatic Weather Station
The Ghana Meteorological Agency (GMet) has paid a courtesy call on the management of Ho Technical University (HTU) as part of efforts to strengthen institutional collaboration following the commissioning of an Automatic Weather Station (AWS) on the University’s campus.
The GMet delegation was led by the Acting Deputy Director-General (Operations), Dr. Ignatius Kweku Williams, and included the Regional Meteorological Officer for Ho, Mr. Emmanuel Dinsah, and Mr. Henry Sidza of GMet.
The delegation was received by the Vice-Chancellor of Ho Technical University, Prof. Ben Q. Honyenuga, together with members of the University’s management and technical team. They included Dr. Michael T.K. Todoko, Acting Registrar; Prof. Akple Maxwell, Dean of the Faculty of Engineering; Dr. Bismark Brako-Mensah, Head of the Department of Agricultural Engineering; Dr. Benjamin Wullobayi Dekongmen, AWS Lead; and Ms. Elizabeth Dadzi.
Prof. Honyenuga welcomed the GMet delegation and expressed his appreciation and excitement at the visit. He noted that the establishment of the Automatic Weather Station on the University campus presented an important opportunity to deepen collaboration between HTU and GMet, particularly in research, teaching, innovation and the practical application of meteorological and climate information.
Discussions during the meeting centred on the regularisation of the Automatic Weather Station, arrangements for data sharing and the broader framework for collaboration between the two institutions. Both parties underscored the importance of establishing clear institutional arrangements to guide the management, operation and use of the facility and to ensure that the data generated are effectively utilised for both operational meteorology and academic purposes.
The discussions also explored opportunities for greater cooperation in research, student training, capacity development and the application of weather and climate information to sectors such as agriculture, engineering, disaster risk reduction and environmental management.
Dr. Williams reiterated GMet’s commitment to strengthening partnerships with academic and research institutions across the country. He noted that collaboration with institutions such as Ho Technical University provides an important platform for expanding the application of meteorological data, supporting scientific research and developing practical solutions to weather- and climate-related challenges.
He further highlighted the potential of the AWS to contribute to GMet’s national meteorological observation network while serving as an important resource for students and researchers at HTU. The facility is also expected to improve the availability of local weather and climate information for Ho and surrounding communities.
Following the discussions, officials from both institutions undertook a tour of the Automatic Weather Station facility. A practical demonstration of the AWS operations was conducted, providing participants with an overview of the station’s functionality, the meteorological parameters being monitored, and the processes involved in the collection, transmission and use of data generated by the system.
The visit reaffirmed the shared commitment of GMet and Ho Technical University to building a mutually beneficial partnership centred on meteorological observations, data sharing, research, innovation, capacity development and the application of weather and climate information.
Both institutions expressed their readiness to continue engagements towards formalising the necessary arrangements and ensuring the effective and sustainable operation and utilisation of the Automatic Weather Station at Ho Technical University.
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