Ocean State Early-Warning Service for West Africa

-

The ocean state early-warning service developed by the University of Ghana consortium offers artisanal fishermen and coastal residents three-day predictions of ocean conditions. The service provides information and ocean state maps in order to protect lives and property at sea from bad weather. 

Ocean state forecast alert for Ghana

The early warning alert is accessible via USSD shortcodes in Ghana (*920*88#) and Nigeria (*347*87#), as well as the GMES-UG mobile application available on android and iOS phones. In Ghana, the code works on all networks and it is free to access. On the other hand, the GMES-UG app provides all beneficiary countries ocean states forecasts and maps among other products.

Ocean State Map from the GMES-UG mobile App

In order to promote the early warning alerts developed, consultants for the University of Ghana consortium of the GMES & Africa programme paid a courtesy call on the Director General (DG) of the Ghana Meteorological Agency (GMet) on 22nd June 2021, to deliberate on ways to promote the use of ocean state products developed by the GMES and Africa marine consortium in West Africa. The DG, Dr. Michael Tanu, who also doubles as the lead representative of directors of the National Hydrological and Meteorological Services in the West Africa region is part of the active proponents of the star-ship ocean state early-warning service.

The team of consultants comprising of Mr. Bennet Foli and Mr. Ignatius Kweku Williams, have as part of their responsibilities, to promote among various stakeholders the use of the ocean state early-warning service as well as a coastal ecosystem service developed by the University of Ghana. The short visit resulted in useful discussions on how to engage end-users via the meteorological agencies that form part of beneficiary countries in West Africa. Already GMet in collaboration with the GMES and Africa project produces daily marine forecast bulletins that are disseminated to key stakeholders in the marine and coastal environment.

Sample Coastal and Marine Forecast bulletin in Ghana

Dr. Tanu reiterated the importance of the early warning alerts for the coastal communities, especially the artisanal fishermen who make use of the information before embarking on their fishing activities.  Together with  Mr. Foli, who is an Oceanographer by profession, they agreed on organising online and physical meetings with the staff of the meteorological agencies in the sub-region.   During the meetings,  the participants will be introduced to the ocean state early-warning service as well as trained to use it to ensure safety at sea, safety at the coast and food security in the West African region.

Mr. Foli (right) in a confab with the Director-General of the Ghana Meteorological Agency (left)

Mr. Williams, an Environmental Scientist, troubleshoot issues with the computer system, aka PUMA Station,  that helps the meteorological agency in generating and disseminating some of their atmospheric and marine products. 

Mr. Williams (sitting position) troubleshooting the PUMA Station at Ghana Meteorological Agency

The University of Ghana consortium is working with the consultants to promote all products and services developed in 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: 
Contact: rmc@ug.edu.gh
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/RegionalMarineCentre
Twitter: https://twitter.com/ug_gmes
Youtube: UG-GMES _Regional Marine Centre
Geoportal: https://geoportal.gmes.ug.edu.gh/








Comments

Post a Comment

Popular posts from this blog

Giraud Togbé double lauréat de la Compétition d’Art Numérique 2020 - GMES & Afrique

-
Image
Les Premiers prix du Concours d'Art Numérique Francophone pour la protection de l'Environnement et pour la protection des Océans a été remporté simultanément par le Béninois Giraud Togbé, Journaliste passionné des questions de science avec un penchant particulier pour les enjeux liés à la protection l'environnement. M. Giraud Togbe Il s'agit d'un concours organisé par Le Centre Marin Régional de l'Université of Ghana dans le cadre de la célébration de la Journée Mondiale de l'Environnement édition 2020 de même que la Journée Mondiale des Océans. Ces deux concours sont ouverts à tous les pays côtiers d'Afrique de l'Ouest, notamment le Bénin, le Cap-Vert, la Côte d'Ivoire, la Gambie, le Ghana, la Guinée, la Guinée-Bissau, le Liberia, le Nigeria, le Sénégal, la Sierra Leone et le Togo. Le lauréat, a présenté une production scientifique qui porte sur le biomonitoring de la faune au sein de l'une des nombreuses forêts sacrées existant...
Read more

Empowering Communities: A Glimpse into the Marine Safety Training

-
Image
To bolster maritime safety and environmental security along the coasts of Greater Accra and Volta regions, a significant training workshop was held at the NAFAG Hall in Tema on 28th December 2023. The workshop, conducted under the auspices of the GMES and Africa programme, represented a pivotal step in ensuring the effective dissemination of vital meteorological information to local communities, particularly fishermen. Group picture of some of the participants and staff of the G Met . The workshop, expertly led by Mr. Joseph T. Portuphy and other marine meteorologists from the Ghana Meteorological Agency, focused on the critical theme of 'Safety of Life and Property at Sea: The Role of Meteorological Information .' The event was attended by community centre operators from the Greater Accra and Volta regions. Highlighting the essence of accurate meteorological data, Mr George Adjetey, Vice President of the Canoes and Fishing Gear Owners Association of Ghana (CaFGOAG) emphasise...
Read more

Establish Open Source Clubs In Universities_ UG-GMES Coordinator

-
Image
Establish Open Source Clubs in Universities_ UG-GMES Coordinator Director for Global Monitoring for Environment and Security and Africa (Marine) project in West Africa, Prof. George Wiafe has called for the establishment of open source clubs in all the twelve ECOWAS countries, starting with the University of Ghana. Prof. George Wiafe, Project coordinator of GMES and Africa (marine) in West Africa, addressing the workshop participants The establishment of these clubs he believes will serve as a capacity-building avenue for students and will better equip them to exploit the benefits from the blue economy agenda. It will further leverage the competition between students from Africa and the rest of the world. The club has been created at the Department of Marine and Fisheries Sciences at the University of Ghana, with about 80 members so far. He made this call during a joint workshop between the marine and fisheries sciences departments of the University of Ghana and the ...
Read more