Centre for Climate Change partners GMeT in training religious leaders on weather forecasts

The Centre for Climate Change & Food Security (CCCFS) has partnered with Ghana Meteorology Agency (GMet) to empower 15 religious leaders on interpreting weather forecasts as part of the Early Warning for all Initiatives (EW4ALL).

A total of 15 participants drawn from both the Christian and Muslim communities were trained virtually on how to interpret weather forecasts provided by GMet as part of efforts to strengthen climate resilience. It also aims at improving disaster preparedness and resilience in local communities by enhancing the religious leaders’ understanding of weather patterns and forecasts, empowering them to communicate critical information to their congregations.

The training will help the religious leaders to play a pivotal role in increasing climate awareness and adaptation in their communities. “The importance of weather forecasts cannot be overstated, especially in a time when changing weather patterns are affecting our daily lives,” said Mahmud Mohammed-Nurudeen, Executive Director of CCCFS. In recent years, extreme weather patterns have had a devastating impact on Ghanaian communities, particularly affecting schoolchildren, especially those living near rivers, streams, and coastal areas

The CCFS Executive Director said, “Religious leaders are key influencers in their communities, and by equipping them with the knowledge to understand and relay weather information, we are ensuring that more Ghanaians, particularly those in vulnerable regions, can adapt and take necessary precautions against extreme weather events. He said his outfit was considering extending the training programme to teachers and other stakeholders across the country following the successful engagement with the religious leaders.

The goal, he said, was to improve the resilience of vulnerable groups, ensuring that they understand the risks and know how to respond to severe weather events. Mr. Mohammed-Nurudeen said CCCFS was committed to raising awareness about the impacts of extreme weather and promoting climate adaptation strategies to safeguard the well-being of Ghanaians. The collaboration with GMet and the continued efforts to expand the training initiative will contribute to ensuring that communities are better prepared for the effects of climate change,” he noted.

He said CCCFS was looking to scale up its impact and was seeking partnerships with other organisations to extend its services to more communities throughout the country.  Mr. Joshua Asamoah, Senior Meteorologist at GMet who facilitated the training, emphasised the importance of collaboration between meteorological services, local leadership, and the public in mitigating the effects of climate change. “Through training and knowledge-sharing, we can build a well-informed society that is prepared for the challenges posed by climate change,” he stated.

Since its inception, CCCFS has consistently focused on training key community members, including journalists, farmers, and religious leaders, on climate-related topics. In July 2022, under its Non-Profit Journalism Project – Ghana Journalists for Environment, Science, Health and Agriculture (GJESHA) – CCCFS trained 20 journalists on how to interpret weather forecasts, equipping them with the skills to communicate climate and weather information to the public.

Source: GNA