Religious leaders have a key role in El Niño preparedness – NADMO

The National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) has called on religious leaders to play a leading role in educating communities and preparing households for the possible effects of the developing El Niño weather phenomenon. Deputy Director of NADMO for the Korle Klottey Municipal Assembly, Esenam Adzo Norgey Apawu, says the influence of churches, mosques and their leaders gives them an important platform to communicate early warnings and help families take preventive action.

“Religious leaders have a strong influence in their communities. This gives them an important role in educating people about El Niño, sharing early warnings and helping families prepare for its possible effects,” she said. She stressed that information on the weather phenomenon should go beyond government offices and conference rooms to reach people in their homes and communities, where preparedness measures are most needed.

“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,” she added. Mrs Apawu was speaking at a breakfast meeting organised by GreenFaith Ghana as part of efforts to strengthen the capacity of religious leaders and places of worship to anticipate, prepare for and respond to risks associated with the El Niño event.

She said preparing for the possible impacts of the phenomenon should not be left to government institutions alone, urging religious leaders, traditional authorities and community members to contribute to local preparedness efforts. “Preparing for El Niño should not be left to government institutions alone. Religious leaders, traditional authorities and community members all have a role to play,” she said.

The Ghana Meteorological Agency has warned of a very strong and intensifying El Niño, which could result in hotter, drier and dustier conditions during the dry season, with possible implications for agriculture, water resources, energy supply and public health. The forecast points to heightened heat stress, particularly in northern Ghana, between February and April 2027, while sudden heavy rainfall and localised flooding could still occur in parts of the south.

The initiative seeks to make religious institutions part of community-level preparedness and response efforts as Ghana prepares for the potential effects of the weather event. GMet Deputy Director of Research and Applied Meteorology, Francisca Martey Ghana Meteorological Agency (GMet) Deputy Director of Research and Applied Meteorology, Francisca Martey, said the agency’s assessment points to a very strong and intensifying El Niño, which is expected to bring hotter, drier and dustier conditions from late November.

She warned that heat stress could peak between February and April 2027, particularly in northern Ghana, while parts of the south could still experience sudden heavy rainfall and localised flooding. She said the conditions could affect agriculture, water resources, energy generation and public health.