June 29, 2021
By: James Kamara-Manneh
Sierra Leone is one of the most vulnerable countries to climate change in West Africa and among the Least Developed Countries (LDC). This is a disclosure made by the most authoritative sources, the Metrological department sending out the warning that the country must be prepared to adapt to the adverse effects of climate change.
Over the years, the country has been facing long-term, high-risk exposure to climate change, and has witnessed first-hand the escalating trail of destruction left in the wake of floods, sea rises, mudslides, landslides and more.
In an exclusive interview with the Public Relation and Outreach Officer of Sierra Leone Meteorological Agency, Success Sie Kamara, he highlighted some challenges the agency is contending with and also recognizes the efforts of the central government.
He said they are struggling with limited apparatus to work with, even as some machines have been installed in some parts of the country through donor’s assistance.
He said the early warning trainings require intensive. Investment He added that to set up a weather station can cost up to 30,000USD, noting that many other places need weather stations.
He cited the issue of mobility gaps that they need to address to connect district to district and reach out to remote communities to benefit from more weather stations. Such an aspiration would require sufficient man-power.
Mr. Kamara touched on some of their core mandates beyond weather, but also dealing with Marine, Aviation, Hydro, health and agriculture sector.
“As an institution part of our key mandate is to give early warning not only to sectors we work with, but also to our foreign partners locally and more so the end users to be able to take advantage of what we give out to keep ourselves safe, he said.”
The mouthpiece of the Metrological Agency said every year within May and April the institution aside from its customary weather forecasting, is to do seasonal forecast consistent with detailed analysis of the forthcoming raining season. He further mentioned that the institution has projected that Sierra Leone will experience early rains, that is rain falling before May.
“Based on the climatic condition we forecast that we would be experiencing heavy thunderstorm, and we also warned about flash floors, torrential rains or sudden rain. Because we will be experiencing deficit of rains, due to the way we interact with the environment, Mr. Kamara said.”
Mr. Kamara revealed that in 2021 as usual Freetown and its environs will be experiencing flooding, but as an institution they have been able to come out with key recommendations to ensure proper mitigation and adaptation.
The agency has been able to attribute the grim projections to the green oxygen emission from vehicles, deforestation, construction houses in water ways, the gas into the air coming from mining and agricultural sectors.
To raise awareness about weather forecasting and climate change, the mouth piece of the Metrological agency said they have been in engagement with the media and have organized training sessions for them, and they are playing their role by giving weather forecast news.
He praised the government for their enormous support towards the agency, however called on them to give more support to meet with their challenges as an institution. He said there is room for improvement because it deals with more scientific institution which requires more capital to enhanee its activities.