Photo: Sam George Nartey, Minister with oversight responsibility of GMet
• We’ll Explode If Mahama Doesn’t Act!
• Staff Rant Over Rot, Rust & Unpaid Dues
Ghana’s weather forecasters are blowing a gale of rage, warning that the country’s entire meteorological system is on the brink of collapse unless urgent action is taken to fix appalling conditions at the Ghana Meteorological Agency (GMet).
In a damning joint press statement, by Divisional Chairman Paston Ahenkan Egyir and Divisional Secretary Jessie Quaofio, catalogues a series of unresolved grievances that they say have festered for years. Chief among these are outdated equipment, unreviewed and inadequate conditions of service, unpaid overtime allowances, and longstanding debts owed to GMet by major public aviation institutions.
“For years, GMet staff have continued to serve this nation with commitment and sacrifice, despite operating under conditions that fall well below acceptable standards,” the statement reads. “Our instruments are obsolete, our allowances unpaid, and our working conditions unreflective of the economic realities in the country.”
The situation has been worsened by the failure of the Ghana Civil Aviation Authority (GCAA) and the Ghana Airports Company Limited (GACL) to settle substantial debts owed to the Agency for services rendered. These debts, union leaders argue, deprive the Agency of critical revenue needed to invest in better infrastructure and improve working conditions.
Equally troubling is the agency’s struggle to retain skilled technical staff in the face of increasing cost of living and stagnant wages. “Our members are struggling to cope with rising living costs,” the union leaders said. “Attrition is becoming inevitable as staff morale continues to decline. The growing frustration is reaching a breaking point.”
According to the statement, previous petitions submitted to the Agency’s management and the Ministry of Communications and Digitalisation have failed to produce tangible results. The workers argue that GMet’s contribution to national planning, disaster management, aviation safety, and climate policy is being dangerously overlooked by policymakers.
“This is not just about staff welfare—it’s about national safety and resilience,” said one senior meteorologist at the agency who asked not to be named. “Weather forecasting is a critical national service. When staff are demoralised and equipment is faulty, everyone is at risk—from farmers and fishers to pilots and emergency planners.”
The union is calling on President John Dramani Mahama to swiftly intervene. “We remain hopeful,” the executives wrote, “and entreat His Excellency the President for a positive resolution, but we are prepared to explore all available options to ensure our voices are heard and our legitimate demands met.”
The tone of the statement suggests that if no action is taken soon, industrial action could follow. “Staff agitation has called for an action to be taken,” the union warned. “If nothing is done, we shall advise ourselves accordingly.”
A Broader Pattern of Institutional Neglect
GMet’s predicament is part of a broader issue affecting public service institutions across Ghana. Agencies tasked with vital duties—meteorology, sanitation, water, and health—often face chronic underinvestment and inconsistent political attention. Experts have long warned that the effects of climate change and rapid urbanisation make it imperative to strengthen rather than weaken institutions like GMet.
“Weather forecasting isn’t a luxury—it’s a national shield,” said Dr Afia Boakye, a climate scientist and policy advisor. “Ghana’s increasing exposure to climate-related disasters, like floods and droughts, makes an efficient meteorological agency more important than ever.”
As global weather patterns grow increasingly erratic, GMet staff argue that the time to fix internal dysfunctions is now. Without decisive government intervention, the country could soon find itself blind to looming environmental threats.
The question remains: will the Mahama administration listen and act—or will the storm clouds gathering over GMet darken further?
About The Author
