GMet still using Guggisberg-era equipment, ISD archives at risk of decay – MP raises alarm

A member of Parliament’s Committee on Information and Communication, Sulemana Adama, has expressed serious concern over the deteriorating condition of key state institutions under the Ministry of Information and Communication following a recent oversight visit.

He stated that many of the agencies visited were struggling with outdated equipment, poor infrastructure, and a lack of resources, warning that the situation could impact the delivery of essential services and result in the loss of valuable national records.

“Every agency that we visited had their peculiar problems, but if you ask me one thing that really struck me, it has got to do with two agencies,” Mr Adama said.

“One with the Communication Ministry that is GMet, and the other is the ISD that used to be with the Information Ministry and is now with Government Communication.”

He described the Ghana Meteorological Agency (GMet) as a crucial institution supporting agriculture, aviation and marine activities, but said the agency’s operations were being hampered by extremely old equipment.

“When we went to GMet, we realised that one of the equipment was acquired by Governor Gordon Guggisberg. It is supposed to monitor rainfall patterns. They are very obsolete equipment,” he revealed.

Mr Adama added that while agencies often mention their challenges during parliamentary budget hearings, the reality is far worse when seen in person.

“Usually when they visit the committee during a budget hearing and they talk about their issues, you don’t appreciate the issues very much until you visit the facility,” he said. “So I believe that that agency actually needs support.”

The MP also raised an alarm about the state of the Information Services Department (ISD), which holds important national archives dating back to the colonial era.

“The ISD has archives dating back to Kwame Nkrumah, even to the pre-colonial era. We need to digitise them, but they are at the mercy of the weather, they are at the mercy of insects and the rest,” he warned. “Clearly, if nothing is done, it will lead to us losing that data.”

He explained that the oversight visit gave the committee firsthand information about the operations and challenges of the agencies, as well as how allocated funds are being utilised.

“The visit afforded the committee an opportunity to have an insight into the workings of the agencies. It’s also part of our oversight to monitor the monies that we gave them, how far they have applied the monies, how much we can support them, and then most importantly, their legislation,” he added.

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