GMet warns of possible drop in Volta River inflows amid El Niño conditions
The Ghana Meteorological Agency (GMet) has warned that persistent El Niño conditions could reduce water inflows into the Volta River, potentially affecting hydroelectric power generation at the Akosombo Dam.
El Niño, the warm phase of the El Niño-Southern Oscillation (ENSO), is a naturally occurring climate phenomenon that influences rainfall and temperature patterns across different parts of the world.
Deputy Director of Research and Applied Meteorology at GMet, Francisca Martey, said below-normal rainfall expected across parts of West Africa could affect water resources shared by Ghana and neighbouring countries.
She explained that the phenomenon was influencing rainfall patterns, resulting in prolonged dry spells and warmer conditions in parts of Ghana.
She noted that the impact extended beyond Ghana, as neighbouring countries within the wider West African region were also expected to experience below-normal rainfall.
“It means that those people in our other countries also get below-normal rainfall, which affects our water resources,” she said on Joy FM's Super Morning Show on Monday, November 2, while discussing the phenomenon.
The host raised concerns that reduced rainfall could lead to lower inflows into the Akosombo Dam and, consequently, affect electricity generation from hydroelectric sources.
Mrs Martey agreed, highlighting the potential implications of the weather phenomenon for Ghana's water and energy resources.
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The warning comes as Ghana prepares for a period of prolonged dry conditions, with GMet projecting above-normal temperatures and below-normal rainfall in the coming months.
Mrs Martey said the agency had already forecast extended dry spells and reduced rainfall across much of the country during the September-October-November (SON) period.
“We're going to have long dry spells. We're going to have below-normal rainfall,” she said.
She added that the conditions were expected to persist into the December-January-February (DJF) period, when the Harmattan season would bring drier air and warmer temperatures.
“We expect that December, January, and February will be warmer,” she stated.
According to her, northern Ghana could experience more pronounced effects because of its vulnerability to rainfall deficits and its importance to the country's food production.
“Although the El Niño affects the whole country, its impact is higher on the northern areas,” she said.
She warned that prolonged dry conditions could affect farmers, particularly those in communities that depend on stored rainwater for agricultural activities.
“The little rainwater that they have kept or saved would also dry up,” she said.
Mrs Martey urged farmers to adopt climate-smart agricultural practices, including mulching, to conserve soil moisture and minimise the effects of prolonged dry spells.
She said GMet was engaging stakeholders in agriculture, health and water resources management, as well as the general public, to improve preparedness for the anticipated weather conditions.
She also advised Ghanaians to stay hydrated and protect themselves against dusty conditions expected during the Harmattan season.
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