A special select group of media practitioners have been taken through a capacity building session in a one-day workshop organized by the Ghana Meteorological Agency (GMeT) at the Coconut Grove Hotel, Elmina.
A total of fifty-three (53) media practitioners including staff of GMeT drawn from the four (4) zones of the Central Region were exposed to lexicons that underpin weather reportage, and most importantly delivering such info-packs in a timely, responsive and communicative manner so as to elicit the corresponding results to augment national development.
Speaking during the opening ceremony of the workshop, Dr. Ignatius Kweku Williams, Deputy Director, In-charge, Operations, GMeT, disclosed that his outfit will continue to live up to the vision and mission that brought it into existence. He did also assure the nation and beyond of meeting the growing demands of GMeT, so as to help save lives, properties as well as reducing the extent of damages to the barest minimum in times of unforeseen occurrences.
On her part, the Head, Central Analysis and Forecasting Office (CAFO), Ms. Felicity Ahafianyo, stated that the future of weather reportage will never be the same again, based on the relationship which has been strengthened between GMeT and the media.
She added that CAFO is a specialized unit within GMeT operating 24/7 to provide comprehensive meteorological services from nowcasting to medium-range weather forecasting.
Ms. Ahafianyo also reminded the participants that CAFO continuously monitors and forecasts precipitation hazards, temperature extremes, sky conditions, as well as visibility and air quality to complement the efforts of government to develop Ghana.
Facilitators including Ms. Felicity Ahafianyo, Head, Central Analysis & Forecasting Office (CAFO), GMeT, Mr. Joshua Asamoah, Senior Meteorologist, GMeT, Mr. Thomas Biney amongst others did walk the participants through several areas so as to be better positioned to disseminate the gospel according to weather reportage.
It was agreed at the one-day workshop that other parts of the nation, Ghana will get to benefit from the ongoing capacity sessions by GMeT. Additional information on can be gleaned via client@meteo.gov.gh or cafo@meteo.gov.gh
Records have it that GMeT is more than a century old thus all efforts are being made to enable it meet the growing demands of the modern era since its birth in 1886 somewhere at the Aburi Gardens in the Eastern Region of Ghana.
