By Patience Gbeze/Edward Dankwah
Accra, May 27, GNA – The National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO), with support from the Government of Japan have launched an Artificial Intelligence-powered WhatsApp chatbot.
The move aims at strengthening disaster risk communication and improving preparedness against floods and droughts in Ghana.
The chatbot, which was put together by UNESCO, handed over to the NADMO at a ceremony held at the organisation’s headquarters in Accra.
The WhatsApp number to the chatbot is 0204833556.
Speaking at the event, Mr Edmond Moukala, the UNESCO Ghana Country Director, described the innovation as a critical step toward addressing the “last mile” challenge in disaster communication by ensuring that accurate and practical information reached citizens at the right time.
He said the initiative formed part of the project titled “Strengthening Resilience to Water-Related Disasters under Climate Change for a Sustainable Society in Ghana.”
Mr Moukala explained that the chatbot was specifically designed to support communication around the dual threats of floods and droughts, which continued to affect communities across the country as climate change intensified.
He noted that Ghana had in recent years experienced severe climate-related disasters, including floods in 2023 that displaced more than 35,000 people and destroyed critical infrastructure, as well as a major drought in 2024 that affected over one million people and caused billions of Ghana Cedis in crop losses.
“These recurring extremes leave communities with little time to recover and remind us that climate change is no longer a distant threat,” he added.
Mr Moukala said the choice of WhatsApp as the platform for the chatbot was deliberate because of its widespread use and familiarity among Ghanaians.
He explained that in emergency situations where every minute mattered, the chatbot would provide real-time forecasts and alerts, offer verified guidance, and support emergency response coordination.
He said the chatbot would also help users understand what actions to take before, during, and after floods, how to prepare for drought and water shortages, and how to interpret official disaster alerts.
The UNESCO Representative further indicated that the platform would help reduce the spread of rumours and misinformation by giving the public direct access to trusted information sources.
He said beyond information dissemination, the chatbot would also serve as a two-way communication platform, allowing communities to report hazards, ask questions, and provide real-time information to disaster management authorities.
Mr Moukala called on government institutions, local authorities, media organisations, community leaders and the public to actively adopt and promote the chatbot to strengthen preparedness and resilience against climate-related disasters.
Major (Rtd) Dr Joseph Bikanyi Kuyon, the Director-General of NADMO, said the Organisation, together with its partners, had worked over the period to move from manual processes of operations to digitalisation and process automation to enhance work and make it much more impactful.
“I would acknowledge the special role that UNESCO and the government of Japan has played to make today come true,” he added.
Dr Kuyon said timely information was of the essence in disaster management, and that the AI powered platform would be the panacea to effective and efficient disaster prevention, preparedness, and rapid response.
He, therefore, urged all players in disaster management in the country to make the tool count in their daily operations.
GNA
Edited by Benjamin Mensah