Disaster and weather officials want places of worship to act as early-warning hubs as FAO, Canada and Norway back a national anticipatory action platform.

Published 9 Nov 2026, 21:04 GMT

2 min read

GMet's Francisca Martey presents on El Niño preparedness to faith leaders in Accra — GMet's Francisca Martey at the GreenFaith Ghana forum

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The National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) and the Ghana Meteorological Agency (GMet) have urged churches and mosques to serve as early-warning centres to help communities prepare for intensifying El Niño conditions.

NADMO official addresses faith leaders at an El Niño preparedness forum in Accra — NADMO at the GreenFaith Ghana forum — Credit: MyJoyOnline

"Information about El Niño must not remain in offices and meeting rooms. It must reach ordinary people in their homes and communities, where preparedness begins," Apawu said, calling on traditional authorities to join the effort.

October 2026 to March 2027 risk window

Ghana Meteorological Agency (GMet) Deputy Director of Research and Applied Meteorology Francisca Martey forecast an El Niño peak between October and December 2026, bringing hotter, drier and dustier Harmattan conditions from late November through March 2027.

"Prepare now for the October 2026 to March 2027 risk window," Martey urged, warning that northern Ghana faces heightened heat stress and meningitis risk between February and April 2027 while southern areas could still suffer flash floods.

"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," Martey said.

Martey proposed a national task force for El Niño preparedness, with reports every month and hazard maps for individual districts.

She also urged the use of drought-tolerant seeds, Volta Lake trigger monitoring and advance supplies of meningitis vaccines.

Separately on Monday, the Food and Agriculture Organization of the United Nations (FAO), backed by funding from Canada and Norway, announced it is working with NADMO, GMet, the Agriculture Ministry and District Assemblies on a National Disaster Risk Reduction Strategy and early-warning platform for farmers.

Araba IncoomAraba Incoom writes on multiple topics with a vast knowledge across different sector. You can almost call me an AI, after all, my initials are Araba Incoom.

El Niño: NADMO and GMet urge churches and mosques to lead community preparedness

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