By Savannah Pokuaah Duah
The Minister for Communications and Digitalisation, Ursula Owusu Ekuful, has outlined five pillars to ensure the success of the Early Warning for All (EW4All) initiative. This initiative was launched on October 28, 2024, in response to UN Secretary-General António Guterres’ 2022 call.
The first pillar, Disaster Risk Knowledge and Data, focuses on systematically collecting and analysing risk data. This involves conducting thorough risk assessments to identify vulnerabilities and hazards. By enhancing risk understanding, decision-makers can develop informed strategies to mitigate potential disasters.
Effective observation and forecasting form the second pillar, which involves developing and utilising cutting-edge technologies to monitor hazards and provide timely early warnings. Accurate forecasting enables swift action, reducing the impact of disasters.
Once potential risks are identified and forecasted, dissemination and communication become crucial. The third pillar ensures risk information reaches all necessary stakeholders in a clear, understandable, and usable manner. This facilitates prompt action and minimises confusion.
Finally, the fourth pillar emphasises preparedness to respond. Building national and community response capabilities enables effective action during disasters. This includes training, infrastructure development, and emergency planning.
Minister Ursula Owusu-Ekuful announced that her department is in charge of Pillars 2 and 3 of the Early Warning for All initiative. Pillar 2 focuses on observation and forecasting, developing hazard monitoring, and early warning services. This means her department will work on establishing a robust system to monitor potential hazards and provide timely warnings to the public.
Pillar 3, dissemination and communication, involves communicating risk information effectively to reach all necessary stakeholders. Minister Owusu-Ekuful’s department will ensure that critical information is disseminated promptly and clearly, enabling swift action.
In her address, Minister Owusu-Ekuful pledged that her ministry would do everything in its power to make the Early Warning for All initiative successful. This commitment underscores the ministry’s dedication to leveraging technology and communication to safeguard Ghanaian lives and properties.