GMet deepens collaboration with media to curb weather misinformation

The Ghana Meteorological Agency (GMet) has held a training for journalists to enhance accurate reporting on weather forecasts and early warnings, describing the media as a vital lifeline between scientific data and public safety.

The workshop organized in Accra on August 26^th, 2025, under the theme: Advancing Early Warning for All: Media as a Lifeline, will also be extended to Koforidua and Elmina, which seeks to equip journalists with a deeper understanding of meteorological terminologies and forecast interpretations, thereby bridging the gap between technical weather data and public communication.

Addressing participants, the Director-General of GMet, Dr. Eric Asuman, emphasized that weather information only becomes valuable when it reaches the people who need it most.

“Farmers planning their season, fishermen preparing for their journey, urban dwellers facing flash floods, families securing their homes against storms, it’s you, the media, who will help us get this message to them,” Dr. Asuman said.

“This is why we consider media not just as disseminators of information, but as lifelines for our communities.”

He highlighted the importance of collaboration between GMet and the media to ensure that early warning translates into early action, noting that accurate weather communication requires not only reporting forecasts but also understanding the science behind them without creating public panic.

Participants were also briefed on the agency’s minor season forecast for southern Ghana, which was officially released during the session.

In an interview with OnlineTimesGh, Felicity Ahafianyo, Head of Central Analysis and Forecasting at GMet, explained that the workshop aims to simplify technical jargon used in forecasts so journalists can better inform the public.

“We are explaining our terminologies, for instance, when we say there is a probability of 50 percent rainfall, what exactly does that mean? We want to avoid misinformation and ensure the media conveys our forecasts accurately,” she said.

She added that GMet will adopt innovative communication tools such as voice notes, short video explainers, and simplified forecast products to make weather information more accessible to journalists and the wider public.

The workshop marks a renewed partnership between GMet and the media, positioning journalists as crucial actors in enhancing Ghana’s resilience against climate variability, environmental threats, and natural disasters.

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