GMet urges churches, mosques to help communities prepare for El Niño threats
The Ghana Meteorological Agency (GMet) has called on churches, mosques and other religious organisations to play an active role in preparing communities for the expected effects of the intensifying El Niño phenomenon.
The Agency says places of worship can serve as community-based early warning and support centres by sharing weather updates, educating their congregations and organising assistance for vulnerable people during climate-related emergencies.
Deputy Director of Research and Applied Meteorology at GMet, Francisca Martey, stressed the need for coordinated preparedness at a breakfast meeting organised by GreenFaith Ghana to launch a faith-based resilience initiative.
The programme, titled “Strengthening the Capacities of Religious Leaders and Places of Worship to Anticipate, Prepare for, and Respond to the Risks Posed by the Current El Niño Event,” is designed to equip religious leaders with the knowledge and skills to respond to climate-related threats.
The meeting brought together faith leaders and organisations involved in climate action, humanitarian assistance and community development to discuss how religious institutions could contribute to early warning communication and emergency response.
Ms Martey outlined the potential effects of El Niño, warning that agriculture, water resources, electricity production, public health and infrastructure could come under considerable pressure in the coming months.
She identified rain-fed agriculture as one of the most vulnerable sectors, explaining that prolonged dry conditions and delayed rainfall could disrupt food production across the country.
“Rain-fed farming is most exposed. Cocoa yields and bean quality fall and black pod rises,” she said.
She added that delayed rainfall and extended dry spells could affect the production of maize, millet and rice, particularly in northern Ghana, with possible consequences for food prices.
On water resources, Ms Martey warned that reduced rainfall in the Volta Basin could lead to lower inflows into the Volta Lake. However, she noted that intense rainfall following prolonged dry periods could also trigger flooding and necessitate emergency water spillage from the dam.
“Weaker basin rains cut lake inflows. Yet short, intense storms after dry spells can force emergency spillage, as in October 2023. Plan for both over the next 12-18 months,” she said.
She further cautioned that reduced water levels could affect electricity generation at the Akosombo and Kpong hydroelectric facilities, potentially increasing the country’s dependence on more expensive thermal power.
According to her, such a situation could raise fuel and foreign exchange costs while putting pressure on electricity supply if preventive measures are not taken.
Ms Martey also highlighted potential public health concerns, particularly an increased risk of meningitis outbreaks in northern Ghana due to dusty Harmattan conditions.
Other possible health threats include heat-related illnesses, malnutrition and cholera outbreaks following flooding.
She noted that infrastructure, fisheries and livelihoods could equally suffer, as bushfires could destroy forests and rural assets, while declining water levels in the Volta Lake could affect fishing and aquaculture. Changes in ocean temperatures could also influence marine fish catches.
She warned that simultaneous challenges in cocoa production and electricity supply could have wider economic consequences, while placing additional pressure on institutions such as the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), health services and fire services.
El Niño preparedness and early warning
Ms Martey said the El Niño phenomenon had been confirmed and was continuing to intensify, with October to December 2026 identified as the period when it was most likely to reach its peak.
She outlined different phases of the anticipated risks, noting that dry spells in northern Ghana and flash-flood threats in parts of the south were already beginning to emerge.
Between October and December 2026, intensified Harmattan conditions are expected alongside declining inflows into the Volta Lake. From January to March 2027, the peak dry season is projected to increase the risk of meningitis outbreaks and bushfires.
Although the phenomenon is expected to weaken between April and July 2027, uncertainty remains over the onset of the major rainy season.
To strengthen national preparedness, the GMet official recommended establishing a national El Niño task force with monthly reporting arrangements and district-level hazard maps.
She also called for closer monitoring of Volta Lake water levels, the provision of weather-based agricultural advisories and enhanced meningitis surveillance.
Other proposed interventions include encouraging the cultivation of drought-resistant crops, diversifying energy sources, making vaccines and emergency relief supplies available in advance, and reviewing disaster-response funding.
She further advocated collaboration with regional and international bodies, including ECOWAS and World Meteorological Organization centres, to improve preparedness.
Ms Martey assured that GMet would continue monitoring the situation and provide updated seasonal forecasts to support planning and decision-making.
“Prepare now for the October 2026 to March 2027 risk window,” she urged.
Religious institutions as community response partners
The GreenFaith Ghana initiative aims to link GMet’s weather warnings with the extensive community networks of churches, mosques and other religious institutions.
Organisers believe faith-based organisations can help translate technical weather information into simple, practical messages that congregations can understand and act upon.
Through their established relationships with communities, religious leaders can help distribute early warnings, identify vulnerable households, promote preparedness and coordinate support during extreme weather events.
The programme is therefore intended to strengthen the ability of religious leaders to anticipate climate-related threats and position their institutions as active partners in local disaster preparedness and response.
The initiative comes as GMet pushes for stronger impact-based early warning systems and improved coordination across sectors ahead of the anticipated effects of El Niño.
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