Agricultural production in Ghana is predominantly rain-fed, and changes in rainfall pattern are having a serious impact on the country’s productivity and economy.
Current information and early warning systems are insufficient – due to lack of near real-time information and low quality of climate forecast – to adequately prepare and cope with extreme climate events. The UNEP-DHI Partnership has carried out a technical assistance supported by CTCN based on a request from the Water Resources Commission in Ghana. Our team has worked on the design, development and implementation of a Drought Early Warning System over the past year, with the aim of increasing the adaptive capacity within the agriculture and water sectors towards climate variability and change in Ghana.
The Drought Early Warning System is a web-based portal based on the well-proven web platform technology tested in numerous DHI projects worldwide. Key national stakeholders have been trained in using the system, which allows them to:
* Access near real-time data related to drought (climate, vegetation, water availability)
* Identify and locate drought based on a wide range of drought indices
* Forecast the development and onset of drought through drought indices linked to climate forecast
* Establish user-defined thresholds for drought warning based on national selected drought indices
* Disseminate information through automated reporting facilities
The final handover of the Drought Early Warning System was done at a final workshop in Accra with the attendance of the key national organisations from Ghana.
Official hand over of the Drought Early Warning System in Ghana, 18 April 2018. ©DHI
Web-based Drought Early Warning System for Ghana enabling national stakeholders to access near real-time information and analysis tools related to drought management in Ghana (http://www.flooddroughtmonitor.com). © DHI