GMet Justifies GH¢10,400 Fee for Specialised Weather Data Request
The Ghana Meteorological Agency has explained the basis for a GH¢10,400 charge applied to a specialised meteorological data request, after concerns were raised during a TV interview on June 17, 2026.
In a statement aimed at promoting transparency and public understanding, GMet said the request in question was not for routine weather information that it provides to the public at no cost, but for a highly specialised and labour-intensive package.
According to the Agency, Mr Tenkorang submitted a formal application on March 12, 2026, seeking extensive meteorological data covering a ten-year period from 2016 to 2025, along with a customised analytical report.
The scope included total and average annual rainfall, rainfall measurement methodologies, locations recording the highest and lowest annual rainfall each year, the length of the rainfall season and number of rainfall days, average, minimum and maximum annual temperatures, locations with extreme annual temperatures, and the duration and number of Harmattan days recorded annually.
GMet noted that meeting the request required technical officers to retrieve archived datasets, validate their integrity, perform quality assurance checks, analyse records from 22 synoptic weather stations across the country over a decade, and prepare a detailed customised report.
In line with the fees (Miscellaneous Provisions) (Amendment) Regulations, 2025, L.I. 2512, the Agency applied its approved schedule, which sets the rate at GH¢13.00 per parameter, per station, per year.
With four parameters requested, the data component amounted to GH¢10,140.00, while the customised analytical report attracted GH¢260.00, bringing the total to GH¢10,400.00.
The Agency stressed that these charges are not discretionary but are derived from a statutory framework that is uniformly applied to all clients seeking comparable specialised data and technical analysis.
It added that the review and standardisation of public sector fees are guided by L.I. 2512, which provides the legal basis for harmonising charges across government institutions.
GMet further emphasised that it continues to provide daily weather forecasts, severe weather warnings, and public advisory services free of charge as part of its mandate.
Fees are levied only on specialised requests that involve large volumes of historical data, extensive processing, technical analysis, or commercial use, because such work demands significant professional and technical resources.
The Agency said it remains committed to openness and has encouraged individuals, researchers, and organisations to engage it directly for clarification on available data products and applicable charges before making public conclusions about costs.
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