Ghana is taking major steps to strengthen climate resilience in agriculture through a suite of new weather information systems, digital tools, and early warning technologies designed to protect farmers from the growing threats of climate variability.
Speaking on recent progress, the Minister of Food and Agriculture, Hon. Eric Opoku highlighted a series of investments that are transforming how farmers access weather intelligence, plan their activities, and respond to extreme events.
Automated Weather Stations Improving Real-Time Forecasting
Twenty automated weather stations (AWS) have been installed across the country under the Ghana Meteorological Agency. Unlike traditional manual systems, these stations collect round-the-clock data with higher accuracy and faster transmission, improving national forecasting and climate modelling.
Eleven of the stations are located in senior high schools, where Climate Clubs are helping students learn about environmental stewardship and climate-smart farming. The Ministry says this approach protects the equipment while building youth capacity in climate science.
The AWS network allows farmers to receive hyper-local advisories on rainfall, temperature, wind, and soil conditions—information that is already shaping decisions on planting, fertiliser use, and harvesting.
Building a National Agro-Climate Information System
To integrate data from both manual and automated stations, the Ministry is developing a Management Information System (MIS) that will serve as the digital backbone of Ghana’s agro-meteorological services. The system will enable real-time analysis and visualisation of weather forecasts, helping improve crop planning and strengthening the country’s early warning mechanisms.
The supplier selection process has been completed, and approval is now with the World Bank. Once operational, the MIS will centralise Ghana’s climate intelligence and support long-term resilience planning.
Digital Climate Advisory Services Reaching Farmers Nationwide
A pilot climate model is already delivering SMS and voice-based advisories to 1,059 farmers across 15 regions. These alerts help farmers prepare for planting seasons, extreme rainfall, and other climate-related disruptions.
A nationwide rollout of the model is scheduled for early December 2025, and tens of thousands of farmers are expected to benefit.
To broaden access, the Ministry is collaborating with the Ministry of Communication to send weather alerts to farmers at no cost. Local FM stations, community information centres, and extension agents—now equipped with motorbikes—are also part of a mass dissemination effort reaching remote communities.
Through nearly 70,000 Community Commodity Farmer Cooperatives, weather information is shared in real time to guide quick and informed decisions.
New Tools for Livestock Early Warning
With support from the Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO), Ghana has also deployed the Event Mobile Application Plus (EMA-i+), a modern animal health surveillance tool launched in September 2025.
The platform allows farmers to report unusual livestock symptoms instantly, triggering rapid diagnostics at the central laboratory in Accra. The system improves response times, reduces disease spread, and protects both public health and farmer investments.
Protecting Livelihoods in an Era of Climate Uncertainty
These interventions mark an important shift toward a data-driven agricultural system that strengthens national food security and shields farmers from climate shocks.
The Ministry says the new tools all feed into the broader Feed Ghana Programme, part of the government’s Agriculture for Economic Transformation Agenda (AETA). The programme aims to:
- Ensure local food sufficiency
- Provide consistent raw materials for industry
- Support the transition toward a 24-hour economy
By embedding climate intelligence into everyday farming, Ghana is laying the groundwork for a more resilient agriculture sector—one where technology, weather data, and local knowledge work together to secure livelihoods and feed the nation.
Story by Doe Benjamin Kofi Lawson