The Ghana Meteorological Agency (GMA) has issued a warning to the public to be cautious due to the intensification of dry and dusty weather conditions in the country. On Wednesday, February 15, 2023, meteorological satellites detected dust lifted around Chad, Sudan, and Niger, which were carried into Ghana by strong winds at lower levels of the atmosphere.
According to Eric Asuman, Ag. The Director-General of the Agency, the public is advised to keep hydrated and follow fire safety precautions, cover foods and water to prevent dust from settling on them, wash fruits thoroughly before taking them, and people allergic to dust should wear nose masks to reduce the effect.
The statement also indicated that the relative humidity ranged between 15% and 50% during this period, with a visibility range of 200 meters to 5,000 meters. The dryness and decreased visibility being experienced may take some time to clear completely.
The first Harmattan Season Advisory was issued by the Ghana Meteorological Agency in November 2022, warning of dry weather conditions, cloudless skies, hot days, and the prevalence of minute dust particles suspended in the atmosphere. The Harmattan season is expected to persist until late February or early March in most parts of the country, with varying intensities of dry and dusty conditions.