ODINAFRICA - II in Ghana

Ghana became a member of the ODINAFRICA  Project during the second phase (ODINAFRICA-II) of the project in the year 2000. The host institution of the ODINAFRICA-II Project in Ghana is the Marine Fisheries Research Division (MFRD) of the Ministry of Fisheries.  The Marine Fisheries Research Division was chosen among other research institutions in Ghana due to its long history of collecting and managing ocean data. Specifically the Oceanography/ Environment Section of MFRD is handling the project.

Under the ODINAFRICA-II project, MFRD was designated as the National Oceanographic Data Centre (NODC) or the Ghana Oceanographic Data Center (GODC) and this takes care of both the Data and Information Canters.

Since the inception of the ODINAFRICA in Ghana, the project has supported the GODC in terms of facilities, funds and training. The Center can boost of a well established Data and Information Canters, well trained Data and Information Managers, and equipment such as computers and accessories.

Mission of the GODC – To facilitate the acquisition and management of marine data and information, the dissemination of ocean data products and provision of bibliographic support to a variety of user groups

The objectives of the GODC are:

• To acquire, manage, archive and disseminate ocean data in Ghana
• To generate information in support of decision making and management of the oceans and coastal zones
• To provide support for the development of human capacity in marine data and information management and institutional capacity in operational oceanography
• To assist in the development and maintenance of national, regional and Pan-African marine metadata bases, information and data holding databases
• To assist in the development and dissemination of marine and coastal data and information products responding to the needs of a wide variety of user groups using national and regional networks
• To provide marine scientist in Ghana with the necessary bibliographic support by making full use of available literature.

The GODC operates within the framework of the International Oceanographic Data and Information Exchange (IODE) . It has acquired data sets and producing comprehensive and quality controlled marine data products, Thus the GODC adds value to the datasets to help maximize the return on investment made in its collection.

The GODC collaborates with all ocean data and information holding institutions and scientists in Ghana.

The Roles and Responsibilities of the GODC are:

·        To source, process, manage and disseminate oceanographic data and information in Ghana

·        To serve as a Reference Center for oceanographic data and information in Ghana

·        To collaborate with oceanographic data and information holding institutions and any relevant national institutions

·        To negotiate with partners on the conditions under which data and information are made available

·        To collaborate with the various data and  institutions in data and information standardization and quality assurance

·        To participate in the collection of oceanographic data and information

The GODC also has linkages with other national and international projects with similar mission.