The Minister for Communications and Digitalisation
(MoCD), Ursula Owusu-Ekuful (MP) has disclosed that the government, as part of
efforts to establish an effective specialized institution for weather and
climate change service delivery, has given clearance for the Ghana
Meteorological Agency (GMet) to recruit, train and deploy 250 (Two Hundred and
Fifty) officers to enhance efficient service delivery.
Mrs. Owusu-Ekuful stated that the recruitment of these
personnel attests to the commitment of the government to ensure that GMeT was
adequately equipped to deliver on its mandate.
The Minister was speaking at the deployment and closing
ceremony organized for the newly recruited staff of GMet.
“It is indeed an essential service provider per
the Labour Act of Ghana, Act 651, and it's imperative we pay critical attention
to the operations of the Agency and provide the needed resources and personnel
to support its operations.”
She observed that as policymakers and the supervisory
authority, it was right to continue to provide the necessary support and
guidance to ensure that the Agency was properly positioned to contribute better
to climate and weather services delivery, especially in the period where matters
of climate change had become more topical globally and as such institutions
like the Ghana Meteorological Agency was expected to lead national efforts to
address the challenges.
The Minister also noted, as a Member of the African
Ministerial Conference on Meteorology (AMCOMET), she is committed to promoting
political and national cooperation to streamline policy-making both at the
national level and the Pan-African level to strengthen climate action.
As part of a commitment to strengthen the agency, she
mentioned that the Ministry of Communications & Digitalisation facilitated
payments for operational vehicles procured by the Agency, Calibration equipment, and Message Switching System.
She added that several other Automatic weather stations have
been installed with funds from Government’s E -Transform Project to expand
GMet’s network of stations across the country since 2018.
"We are all witnesses to the improved accuracy of
forecasts and efficiency in their service delivery.
GMet is also a beneficiary institution to receive support
under the World Bank-funded GDAP which is currently awaiting parliamentary
approval", she said.
She congratulated the new employee and urged them to be
diligent in their service to mother Ghana, adding that it was their own
opportunity to contribute to the progress and development of your country.