Weather surveillance and disaster-warning systems for Ghana soon

President John Dramani Mahama has hinted at government exploring ways of building weather surveillance and early disaster-warning systems for Ghana.

“[This] can help us to build resilience against climate change and its impact.”

In an address on Tuesday, July 22 to launch a national climate change policy under the auspices of the Ministry of Environment, Science, Technology and Innovation, President Mahama noted that tackling climate change has been on the top of Ghana’s development agenda.

“As a government we believe that tackling climate change and its impact will ensure that the gains we make in tackling poverty reduction and food security will not be eroded,” he told the audience at the Accra International Conference Center (AICC).

The audience consisted of a broad spectrum of the citizenry including climate change experts, Members of Parliament, students, chiefs and some members of the diplomatic corps.

The country's 57th-independence anniversary was disrupted by heavy downpour, a situation that prompted the president to call for more resources for the Ghana Meteorological Agency.

President Mahama said efforts have been made to address climate issues in national planning and budgeting guidelines.

“The objective in doing this is to provide the catalyst from Ministries, Departments and Agencies (MDAs) as well as Municipal, Metropolitan and District Assemblies (MMDAs) to respond to the preparation of their medium term development plans.”