Empowering Communities: A Glimpse into the Marine Safety Training

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 GMet.

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) emphasised the importance of active participation by the attendees. His message was clear: the information provided by the Ghana Meteorological Agency's Marine unit is a crucial tool for local fishermen, aiding them in making informed decisions to ensure their safety at sea.

Mr Portuphy, Deputy Director for Synoptic Meteorology and Forecasting at the Ghana Meteorological Agency, further elaborated on the necessity for Community Information Centre operators to thoroughly comprehend every aspect of the information released by the marine unit. He underscored the potential risks associated with misinformation or misinterpretation of critical weather parameters, which could have dire consequences for end-users.

Mr Jospeph Portuphy, taking the participants through the ocean state alerts.

The workshop also featured a series of presentations on marine weather information and parameters, addressing various concerns raised by community information centre operators. This interactive session fostered a deeper understanding of meteorological data and its practical application in maritime activities.

To further promote the Earth observation services of the ‘Global Monitoring for Environment and Security & Africa' initiative and to underscore the importance of safety at sea, specially designed T-shirts and flyers were distributed to all participants and their community members.

Distribution of promotional materials to participants.

It is worth noting that of the 56 individuals trained in this workshop, 18 were females, showcasing an encouraging trend towards gender inclusivity in this vital field.

This training workshop marks a significant milestone in our collective efforts to enhance the safety and security of maritime activities through informed decision-making, a testament to the power of knowledge of Earth observation and collaboration in facing the challenges of the marine environment.

A female participant, a Community Information Centre operator, on the floor.

The Ghana Meteorological Agency is one of the 11 partners executing the Marine and Coastal Areas Management in West and North Africa (MarCNoWA) under the GMES and Africa Programme. The MarCNoWA initiative is led by the University of Ghana, and it is co-funded by the African Union Commission and the European Union.