In 2014, the nation’s 57th National Independence Day parade was marred by heavy downpour and this year, the Ghana Meteorological Service Department has predicted the rains will come down again on Friday, March 6.
[contextly_sidebar id=”JNH7RVu1bd07v1gycVM5eb7RIWewNJ1J”]”Yes, the rains are going to come tomorrow [Friday] but in the afternoon over the southern half of the country; that is the middle sector and parts of the coastal sector at 1pm,” said a senior officer at the Ghana Meteorological Service, Mula Tsatsu Siame on Eyewitness News.
He further explained that his outfit is “expecting the local thunderstorms to develop and bring about some rain showers tomorrow. With the North, the place is going to be dry; that is from Walewale to Tumu, through Bole, up to about Sunyani, Ketekrachie, Jasikan and the Sunyani and Kumasi areas.
When you get to the Volta Region, Ho, Amedzope; in the Eastern Region, Akuse, Koforidua, Akim Oda and in the Central Region, it’s Twifo Praso, Wasssa and then Tarkwa in the Western Region. After 1 o’clock, we are expecting some thunderstorms. locally developed thunderstorms will occur which will give rain.”
Last year, the President after inspecting the parade through the rain, disclosed that the Presidency had received a warning from the Meteorological Services Department but the news arrived late which made it impossible for the event to be rescheduled.
He however asked the Service to sharpen their skills saying, “we must sharpen our ability to be able to predict the behaviour of the weather in order to be able to adapt to it”
The development gave rise to questions over the effectiveness of the Meteo Service Department which is known to be under resourced.
There were also suggestions that school children must be exempted from the 6th March parade after they were left standing in the rain for almost 15 minutes before some left to find shelter.
The Meteo Service later apologized to the nation for failing to issue the notice to Ghanaians to avert the mayhem it caused.
–
By: Efua Idan Osam/citifmonline.com/Ghana
Follow @osamidan