Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, has directed the Defence and Interior Committee to invite the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) and other relevant agencies to brief the House on Ghana’s preparedness for the anticipated El Niño phenomenon next year.
The directive followed a statement delivered in Parliament by the Member of Parliament for Asokwa, Patricia Appiagyei, who expressed concern over forecasts by the Ghana Meteorological Agency (GMet) suggesting that the weather phenomenon could have significant implications for the country.
Mr Bagbin tasked the Committee with examining allocations in the 2027 Budget intended to mitigate the potential effects of El Niño and assessing the preparedness of agencies mandated to prevent and respond to disasters.
He urged the Committee to treat the issue as a matter of national priority and use the relevant Standing Orders of Parliament to compel institutions and agencies responsible for disaster management to account for their level of preparedness.
In her statement, Ms Appiagyei warned that El Niño could have serious implications for key sectors of the economy, including agriculture, water resources, hydroelectric power generation and public health, if adequate preventive measures were not put in place.
She pointed to Ghana’s past experience with major El Niño episodes, particularly in 1982/83, 1997/98 and 2015/16, as evidence of the country’s vulnerability to prolonged dry spells, irregular rainfall and other climate-related disruptions.
The Asokwa MP called for early national planning, improved coordination among relevant agencies and sufficient budgetary allocations to reduce the potential effects of the phenomenon on livelihoods, food security and critical infrastructure.
In response, Majority Leader and Builsa North MP, James Agalga, assured the House that the Government was aware of the concerns and was giving the matter attention.
He said the Mahama-led administration had begun engaging key disaster management and emergency response agencies to develop and implement measures to mitigate the expected effects of the weather phenomenon.
An advisory issued by the Ghana Meteorological Agency (GMet) indicates that the ongoing El Niño is expected to intensify between January and March 2027, with an 83 per cent probability of reaching strong to very strong levels.
The agency has urged national and local authorities to step up preparedness efforts to minimise risks associated with irregular rainfall, prolonged dry spells, flooding, water shortages and other climate-related challenges.
The discussions highlighted growing concerns among lawmakers about Ghana’s preparedness to manage extreme weather events and their potential socio-economic impact.
