Accra, Ghana — Stakeholders from government, academia, industry, regulatory agencies and development organisations have begun deliberations on a proposed bill that seeks to transform the Ghana Meteorological Agency (GMet) into a statutory authority with enhanced powers to regulate and coordinate meteorological services across the country.
The consultative meeting, organised by the Ghana Meteorological Agency in Accra, forms part of efforts to gather stakeholder input on the proposed Ghana Meteorological Authority Bill, 2025 before it is submitted for further consideration.
The bill is expected to strengthen Ghana’s capacity to provide weather, climate and early warning services at a time when increasing climate variability and extreme weather events continue to affect livelihoods, infrastructure and national development.
Opening the engagement, Director-General of GMet, Dr. Eric Asuman, said the proposed legislation represents a major step towards strengthening the country’s meteorological services architecture and improving resilience to climate-related risks.
He noted that weather and climate variability have become defining challenges globally, requiring stronger institutions capable of delivering accurate, timely and reliable information to support decision-making.
According to Dr. Asuman, extensive consultations have already been undertaken with experts, institutions and members of the public to ensure the proposed law reflects stakeholder concerns and national development priorities.
A Director at the Ministry of Communication, Digital Technology and Innovations, Barbara Barnes, explained that the review forms part of a broader government initiative to modernise legislation governing agencies under the ministry.
She said many existing laws were enacted more than two decades ago and require updating to reflect current technological, operational and regulatory realities.
The proposed transition from an agency to an authority, according to GMet’s Deputy Director-General in charge of Operations, Dr. Ignatius Kweku Williams, goes beyond a change in name.
He said the reform is intended to strengthen GMet’s mandate to regulate meteorological activities, coordinate weather and climate information services, establish technical standards and enhance public safety through improved forecasting and early warning systems.
Under the proposed legislation, the new authority would serve as the country’s sole source of official severe weather warnings and public safety alerts.
Dr. Williams noted that sectors including aviation, agriculture, fisheries, energy, disaster management and transportation increasingly depend on reliable weather information to support planning and risk management.
He added that the reforms would help attract investment in modern forecasting infrastructure and improve Ghana’s ability to anticipate and respond to weather and climate-related hazards.
Participants were also taken through the key provisions of the draft bill by Deputy Director-General for General Services, Ms. Vivian Abla Kally.
She explained that the legislation seeks to strengthen the agency’s regulatory role, improve governance structures, establish a National Meteorological Fund and introduce a licensing framework for meteorological operations.
According to her, the licensing regime would help ensure quality assurance, professional standards and compliance with international best practices in the provision of meteorological services.
The proposed National Meteorological Fund is also expected to support investments in forecasting infrastructure, climate monitoring systems and service delivery improvements.
The engagement concluded with stakeholders providing feedback, recommendations and observations on various provisions contained in the bill.
Officials said the comments received would be reviewed and incorporated where necessary as part of the ongoing legislative process.
GMet described the consultations as part of its commitment to inclusive stakeholder engagement and efforts to develop a modern legal framework capable of supporting climate resilience, disaster preparedness and sustainable development in Ghana.
Source: www.climatewatchonline.com
