STAKEHOLDERS SCHOOLED ON WATER RESOURCES
July 12, 2010
STAKEHOLDERS SCHOOLED ON WATER RESOURCES
BY P. A. WEDAM
ISD-BOLGATANGA MUNICIPAL
The Water Resources Commission [WRC] has held a day’s awareness workshop at Bolgatanga in the Upper East region to educate stakeholders on water laws in Ghana and integrated water resources management in the White Volta Basin and in Ghana at large.
Journalists, representatives of non-governmental organisations, district assembly staff, youth groups and district information officers attended the workshop which was sponsored by the European Union.
In a presentation on integrated water resources management [IWRM] in Ghana, the Public Relations Officer of the WRC in charge of public education and awareness, Mrs. Adwoa Dako explained that the benefits of managing water in a sustainable manner will ensure that there is enough water for domestic, industry and for agricultural uses to increase food productivity. It is also to ensure the availability of adequate water for hydropower generation.
Mrs. Dako noted however that, problems of pollution, water weeds, excessive land use activities and lack of a comprehensive institutional and legal framework often lead to the untimely depletion and contamination of the few available water bodies.
On the way forward to protect water resources in the country, the PR officer called for the enactment of bye laws and enforcement of existing ones, the growing of trees by river banks, proper disposal of liquid and solid waste and the avoidance of all forms of development on water ways.
She said on its own, the water resources commission has adopted the concept of integrated water resources management which embodies coordinated development and management of water resources in relation to land, economic and social welfare and the sustainability of vital ecosystems. Meanwhile, river basin authorities have also been set up in various regions with main river bodies and these comprise staff from various departments and agencies who oversee the uses of those water bodies.
Another officer at the public relations unit of the WRC, Mr. Ransford Adjei in a similar presentation disclosed that before the colonial periods, water resources were managed under customary law and considered as community property. But after independence, the state regulated systems of water management was introduced which vests all water resources in the hands of government in trust for the people of Ghana. Therefore, there is no private ownership of water resources in Ghana.
Accordingly in 1996, an Act of Parliament, Act 522 established the Water Resources Commission with the responsibility of ensuring that management of Ghana’s water resources conforms to the management of other natural resources.
Mr. Adjei further said the commission is responsible for the issuance of permits for water drilling and discharge of acceptable levels of liquid waste into water bodies. It is also in charge of declaring water emergencies, protection of watersheds and preservation of existing uses of water.
A leading officer of the White Volta Basin Board [WVBB] at the Bolgatanga office of the Water Resources Commission, Mr. Aaron Bundi Aduna in his presentation revealed that the board was inaugurated in July, 2006 to among other things build political will for integrated water resource management [IWRM], encourage transboundary collaboration in IWRM implementation and to facilitate research into water resource management.
Mr. Aduna added that the board also undertakes water quality monitoring, capacity building for technical institutions and young water managers and in addition, provides alternative livelihoods for communities which will otherwise over exploit water resources as a means of survival. He said the board further assists communities to adapt to climate change interventions.
The White Volta Basin Board does not work in isolation. It collaborates effectively and closely with traditional rulers, local government institutions like assemblies, the ministry of agric, the environmental protection agency and others to do its work efficiently.
During open forum, issues of people building on water courses, inappropriate discharge of liquid waste into water bodies, activities of illegal miners popularly known as “galamsey” and farming on river banks were raised by participants.
STAKEHOLDERS SCHOOLED ON WATER RESOURCES
BY P. A. WEDAM
ISD-BOLGATANGA MUNICIPAL
The Water Resources Commission [WRC] has held a day’s awareness workshop at Bolgatanga in the Upper East region to educate stakeholders on water laws in Ghana and integrated water resources management in the White Volta Basin and in Ghana at large.
Journalists, representatives of non-governmental organisations, district assembly staff, youth groups and district information officers attended the workshop which was sponsored by the European Union.
In a presentation on integrated water resources management [IWRM] in Ghana, the Public Relations Officer of the WRC in charge of public education and awareness, Mrs. Adwoa Dako explained that the benefits of managing water in a sustainable manner will ensure that there is enough water for domestic, industry and for agricultural uses to increase food productivity. It is also to ensure the availability of adequate water for hydropower generation.
Mrs. Dako noted however that, problems of pollution, water weeds, excessive land use activities and lack of a comprehensive institutional and legal framework often lead to the untimely depletion and contamination of the few available water bodies.
On the way forward to protect water resources in the country, the PR officer called for the enactment of bye laws and enforcement of existing ones, the growing of trees by river banks, proper disposal of liquid and solid waste and the avoidance of all forms of development on water ways.
She said on its own, the water resources commission has adopted the concept of integrated water resources management which embodies coordinated development and management of water resources in relation to land, economic and social welfare and the sustainability of vital ecosystems. Meanwhile, river basin authorities have also been set up in various regions with main river bodies and these comprise staff from various departments and agencies who oversee the uses of those water bodies.
Another officer at the public relations unit of the WRC, Mr. Ransford Adjei in a similar presentation disclosed that before the colonial periods, water resources were managed under customary law and considered as community property. But after independence, the state regulated systems of water management was introduced which vests all water resources in the hands of government in trust for the people of Ghana. Therefore, there is no private ownership of water resources in Ghana.
Accordingly in 1996, an Act of Parliament, Act 522 established the Water Resources Commission with the responsibility of ensuring that management of Ghana’s water resources conforms to the management of other natural resources.
Mr. Adjei further said the commission is responsible for the issuance of permits for water drilling and discharge of acceptable levels of liquid waste into water bodies. It is also in charge of declaring water emergencies, protection of watersheds and preservation of existing uses of water.
A leading officer of the White Volta Basin Board [WVBB] at the Bolgatanga office of the Water Resources Commission, Mr. Aaron Bundi Aduna in his presentation revealed that the board was inaugurated in July, 2006 to among other things build political will for integrated water resource management [IWRM], encourage transboundary collaboration in IWRM implementation and to facilitate research into water resource management.
Mr. Aduna added that the board also undertakes water quality monitoring, capacity building for technical institutions and young water managers and in addition, provides alternative livelihoods for communities which will otherwise over exploit water resources as a means of survival. He said the board further assists communities to adapt to climate change interventions.
The White Volta Basin Board does not work in isolation. It collaborates effectively and closely with traditional rulers, local government institutions like assemblies, the ministry of agric, the environmental protection agency and others to do its work efficiently.
During open forum, issues of people building on water courses, inappropriate discharge of liquid waste into water bodies, activities of illegal miners popularly known as “galamsey” and farming on river banks were raised by participants.
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