National Voltalarm Media Training And Stakeholder Engagement Workshop Ends In Accra
The final lap of the National VOLTALARM Media Training and Stakeholder Engagement Workshop was held in Accra last Friday at the Erata Hotel, East Legon. The training workshop, which forms part of the Volta Flood and Drought Management Project, was organised by the Volta Basin Authority (VBA), World Meteorological Organization (WMO), and Global Water Partnership with funding from the Adaptation Fund.
The National partner institutions include the Water Resources Commission (WRC-Country Rep for VBA), Ghana Hydrological Authority(Hydro), National Disaster Management Organization(NADMO) and Ghana Meteorological Agency(GMet). Participants included media personnel, farmers, traders, agriculture extension officers, and disaster managers, and they were drawn from Bono, Bono East, Ashanti, and Greater Accra Regions.
The Ag. Director General Mr. Eric Asuman, in an opening statement, indicated that the workshop will enable participants to develop a communication strategy for conveying alerts and messages related to climate, water, and weather forecasts and delve into existing alert dissemination mechanisms. He also used the platform to admonish participants, especially the media, to serve as ambassadors in propagating the operations and activities of the Agency.
The three key partner institutions, WRC, HYDRO, and GMet, took turns detailing their involvement in the project and how useful the training is within their respective mandates.
Messrs. Joshua Asamoah and Samuel Owusu Ansah engaged participants on VOLTALARM products, such as the Risk profile of the Volta Basin and the Interpretation of Meteorological and Hydrological Bulletins. Other presentations included an introduction to GMet Marine and Inland Waters Forecasts products, the Climate Atlas and the 2024 Seasonal Forecast for Ghana. Participants got the opportunity to try hands-on exercises on drafting multi-hazard bulletins and public weather forecast products.
Mr. Eric Asuman, in his closing remarks, expressed his gratitude to the participants for their valuable contributions and reiterated GMet’s commitment to delivering quality service for the development of the country.
Other dignitaries present were the Chairman of the Governing Board of GMet, Hon. George Isaac Amoo, and the visiting scientist to GMet, Professor Benjamin Lamptey.
