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Speaker of Parliament Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin has directed the Defence and Interior Committee to summon the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) and other relevant state agencies to brief Parliament on Ghana’s preparedness for the anticipated El Niño weather phenomenon in 2027.

The directive follows concerns raised by the Member of Parliament for Asokwa, Patricia Appiagyei, who warned that forecasts by the Ghana Meteorological Agency (GMet) point to potentially significant consequences for the country.

Bagbin instructed the committee to examine allocations and interventions in the 2027 Budget intended to address the possible effects of El Niño and assess the readiness of institutions responsible for disaster prevention and emergency response.

He urged the committee to treat the issue as a national priority and use the relevant Standing Orders of Parliament to compel agencies with disaster management responsibilities to account for their preparedness plans.

Presenting her statement on the floor of Parliament, Appiagyei cautioned that El Niño could have far-reaching implications for Ghana’s economy, particularly agriculture, water resources, hydroelectric power generation and public health.

She cited Ghana’s experiences during previous major El Niño episodes, including those of 1982/83, 1997/98 and 2015/16, as evidence of the country’s vulnerability to prolonged dry spells, irregular rainfall and other climate-related disruptions.

The Asokwa legislator called for early national planning, improved coordination among government agencies and adequate budgetary allocations to minimise potential damage to livelihoods, food security and critical infrastructure.

Responding to the concerns, Majority Leader and Builsa North MP James Agalga assured Parliament that the government was aware of the potential threat and had begun engaging key disaster management and emergency response institutions.

He said the Mahama Administration was taking steps to plan and implement mitigation measures ahead of the anticipated weather event.

According to an advisory issued by the Ghana Meteorological Agency, the ongoing El Niño is expected to strengthen between January and March 2027, with an 83 per cent probability of reaching strong to very strong intensity.

GMet has urged national and local authorities to take precautionary measures to reduce risks associated with rainfall variability, prolonged dry spells, flooding, water shortages and other climate-related challenges.

The advisory has heightened calls for coordinated action to protect communities and essential services from possible weather-related disruptions.

The parliamentary debate highlights growing concern over Ghana’s readiness to manage extreme weather events and limit their potential effects on economic activity, public health and livelihoods.