We need a more coordinated system to manage the White Volta Basin - Expert

Dr Rafatou Fofana, a hydrologist at the Volta Basin Authority(VBA), has called for a more coordinated system of water resource governance in the White Volta Basin.

She said the increased usage of the natural resource for irrigation and domestic purposes in the past four years has reduced the reservoirs due to the growing population living in the White Volta Basin.

Dr Fofana made these comments at a dissemination workshop on tools for managing water resources in Bolgatanga organized by the Water Resources Commission.

She said resources for livelihoods were based on natural resources and reiterated that increasing usage of water among the

six partner countries required shared responsibilities and principles to ensure the sustainability of the basin.

She said environmental and land degradation due to climate change were the main causes of siltation, water shortages and loss of biodiversity that affect the natural resource.

Dr Fofana said though partner countries have different priorities in the basin for multiple uses such as dams for irrigation, it was at the heart of several environmental, economic, social and political challenges that require the different actors to make decisions for governance and to avoid unforeseen conflicts.

She said the workshop formed part of a strategic direction prioritized by stakeholders and supported under the Shared

Resource Joint Solutions (SRJS) Project aimed to create awareness for local actors, opinion leaders, decentralized departments, the media and civil society on intervening in the field of water.

Speaking in an interview with the Ghana News Agency, the hydrologist said it is a shared responsibility of the diverse decision-makers and stakeholders to take effective and coordinated decisions bound on principles of transparency in utilizing funds for water management, participation, inclusiveness, effective communication, ethical and representativeness of all actors.

She said water is crucial to agriculture and in the face of the dwindling resources, farmers needed information to take decisions on how to mobilize water to support the sector.

Talking of the achievement of the VBA, she said the institution had chalked successes since its establishment in 2007 and this include the establishment of a forum of parties and council of ministers who meet to take decisions for water management and some projects.