The government has installed at least 20 Automated Weather Stations (AWS) nationwide under the Ghana Meteorological Agency (GMeT) to ensure real-time data collection.
Unlike manual stations, these AWS units will collect data automatically to ensure higher accuracy and consistency, enable faster transmission to the GMeT central database, reduce reliance on manual readings, and enhance forecasting and climate modelling for disaster prevention and farm planning.
Announcing the initiative, Minister for Food and Agriculture, Eric Opoku, said that out of the total number, 11 are located in Senior High Schools, where Climate Clubs have been formed to promote environmental literacy and ownership.
“This does not only provide physical security for the instruments, but also educates the next generation about-smart agriculture,” he stated during his turn of the Government Accountability Series.
According to the minister, the success of agriculture today depends not only on land and labour but ultimately on accurate weather information to tackle climate variability and support farmers’ decision-making.
“The Automated Weather Stations allow us to provide farmers with precise and hyper-local advisories on rainfall patterns, temperature trends, wind conditions, and soil health – directly influencing planting, harvesting, and fertiliser application decisions.”
To integrate and analyse data from both manual and automated weather stations, Mr. Opoku said the sector is establishing a Management Information System (MIS).
“The system will enable real-time analysis, visualisation, and dissemination of weather forecasts to support cropping decisions, food system planning, and early warning mechanisms,” he detailed.
Source: Juliet Arhinful
