GMet Receives ActionAid Ghana Delegation to Discuss Early Warning Systems Partnership
The Ghana Meteorological Agency (GMet) on Thursday, 30thJuly 2026, received a two-member delegation from ActionAid Ghana to discuss possible areas of collaboration on the implementation of the Early Warning Systems component of the Improved Resilience of Coastal Communities (IRCC) Project.
The delegation comprised the Head of Programmes, Campaigns and Innovation at ActionAid Ghana, Justin Cyprian Bayor Esq., and the Fundraising Manager, Zachariah Issac. They were received by the Director-General of GMet, Dr. Eric Asuman, and the Deputy Director-General in charge of Operations, Dr. Ignatius Kweku Williams, together with some technical staff of the Agency.
The visit followed a formal request from ActionAid Ghana to engage GMet on opportunities to strengthen collaboration in the implementation of the IRCC Project, a regional climate adaptation initiative being implemented in Ghana and Côte d'Ivoire. The project seeks to reduce communities' exposure to flooding and coastal hazards through strengthened early warning systems, improved drainage infrastructure, mangrove restoration, and climate-resilient livelihood interventions.
Welcoming the delegation, Dr. Asuman highlighted the critical role of the Ghana Meteorological Agency as the country's legally mandated authority for weather observations, forecasting and the issuance of early warnings. He emphasized that while partnerships are essential to achieving resilient communities, all meteorological observations, data processing and the dissemination of official weather forecasts and warnings must remain aligned with national legislation and internationally accepted standards.
He noted that the development of an effective Early Warning System extends beyond the installation of weather equipment, stressing that the collection of meteorological data, its processing into forecasts, and the timely dissemination of warnings require a coordinated national approach led by GMet.
Dr. Asuman further highlighted the need for ActionAid Ghana to involve the Agency from the conceptual and planning stages of the project to ensure that proposed interventions complement existing national infrastructure rather than duplicate investments. He explained that GMet’s technical expertise would help determine the appropriate types of observation equipment, their specifications and the most suitable locations for installation, especially in vulnerable coastal communities where both meteorological and marine hazards must be considered.
On his part, Deputy Director-General (Operations), Dr. Ignatius Kweku Williams, welcomed the proposed collaboration and reiterated GMet’s readiness to provide the technical guidance required throughout the implementation of the Early Warning Systems component. He proposed that the Agency designate appropriate technical officers to support various aspects of the project, including equipment specifications, forecasting systems and early warning operations, rather than limiting support to a single focal person.
Dr. Williams further indicated that GMet would be pleased to support ActionAid Ghana through technical capacity-building programmes to deepen stakeholders’ understanding of the complete early warning value chain from data collection and forecasting to communication and community response.
Speaking on behalf of ActionAid Ghana, Justin Cyprian Bayor Esq. said they was looking forward to working closely with GMet because of the Agency's mandate in weather observations, forecasting and early warning services.
He explained that the project seeks to establish community-based systems capable of collecting local observations, integrating them into national platforms and enhancing the dissemination of warnings to vulnerable coastal populations. He stressed that the proposed systems remain flexible and would be refined through GMet’s technical advice.
The two institutions also discussed opportunities to collaborate on future climate resilience initiatives, proposal development, resource mobilization and training programmes aimed at improving the use of weather and climate information.
The meeting ended with both institutions reaffirming their commitment to working together to strengthen early warning systems and climate resilience in Ghana. Over the next few weeks, GMet and ActionAid Ghana are expected to formalizethe partnership through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU), which will provide the framework for their collaboration on the project and other areas of mutual interest.
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