UG-GMES intensifies “Safety at Sea” Campaign in fishing communities

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Eight key coastal fishing towns in Ghana have each received branded billboards from UG-GMES to be mounted at vantage points in the communities. This comes after the team together with staff from the Ghana Meteorological Agency and the Fisheries Commission embarked on a field trip to these communities to introduce them to new USSD code and the mobile GMES-UG app.

A typical ”Safety at Sea” Billboard 

The billboards, with inscriptions "SAFETY AT SEA” and ocean states pictures, are to further the awareness creation among fisherfolks in these areas. Since the introduction of the shortcode developed by the GMES and Africa project at the University of Ghana, the Regional Marine Centre, the Ghana Meteorological Agency and the Fisheries Commission have all received several positive feedbacks from fishermen. This led to the mounting of billboards which, will serve as a constant reminder to fisherfolks on the need to access oceans conditions at sea before embarking on fishing expeditions.

Safety at Sea Billboard mounted at Anomabo, Central Region, Ghana 

Beneficiary communities include Half Assini and  Axim in Western Region, Elmina and Anomabo in the Central Region, Tema and Osu in the Greater Accra region and Edina and Anloga in the Volta Region.

Safety at Sea Billboard received at Elmina, Central Region, Ghana 

Safety at Sea Billboard received at Axim, Western Region, Ghana 
Oceanographer Mr. Bennet Foli (left) and Chief Fisherman Nana Bentil (Right) 

Chief fisherman of Agya fishing community and Central Region Branch Secretary for the Ghana National Canoe fishermen Council, Nana Kwame Yaa Ababio III, expressed gratitude to the GMES and Africa project for the introduction of a technology which he says has greatly improved on their vocation: "The fishermen are very much grateful. Whenever we dial the shortcode, we receive prompt information and when we tell them, they validate it when they are at sea". He added that the service provided to them helps them to ascertain their local knowledge or to correct it. 


Nana Kwame Yaa Abaabio III, Chief Fisherman at Agya, and Secretary for the Central Region Branch, Ghana National Canoe Fishermen Council 

The billboards promote the USSD code developed by the GMES and Africa project, as well as the GMES-UG mobile application for android and iOS users. With the new USSD code, users can simply dial (*920*88#) where they can access information on the 3-day forecast of the ocean condition. The code works on all networks in Ghana and it is free to access. On the other hand, the GMES-UG app provides all beneficiary countries ocean states forecast, ocean state maps and potential fishing zones if they are granted access.

A view of the market at Tema Fishing Harbour, Greater Accra, Ghana

The University of Ghana consortium is working with all national focal institutions to provide similar services to the 12 beneficiary coastal countries in West Africa. “GMES, and Africa” is a continental Earth Observation program co-founded by the African Union Commission and the European Commission.

For more information visit: https://gmes.ug.edu.gh/
Contact: rmc@ug.edu.gh
Youtube: UG-GMES _Regional Marine Centre

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