… also to restore and conserve ecological infrastructure
By Samuel SAM
Ghana’s first financial sustainable Watershed programme “White Volta Watershed Fund” to create an enabling legal and policy environment for sustainable water resources management in the White Volta Basin has been inaugurated in Tamale.
Catholic Relief Services (CRS) in partnership with The Nature Conservancy (TNC), Water Resources Commission (WRC), Ghana Water Limited (GWL), Northern Regional Coordinating Council, Environmental Protection Agency, Coalition of NGOs in Water and Sanitation (CONIWAS) in cooperation with the traditional authorities and government agencies is to complement with the existing interventions to secure Tamale water supply for the future.
$143 million investment in the water Fund for protection and restoration interventions is required to return at least $300 million in economic benefits over 28-year frame would ensure water security for the communities in the Greater Tamale Metropolis.
An annual water revenue losses of $1.1 million and treatment costs of US$23,000, riverbed sedimentation from upstream of 177,800 tones, volume of sediments around Nawuni intake point of 32,000 tones, and dredging costs of US$126,000 around intake points could all be avoided while improve agricultural practices increase crop production of US$22.3 million per year, increase wild resource harvesting of US$321,000 per year, carbon credit worth of US$1.7 million generated as well as job creation through conservations.
With WRC pledged support of GH1.5 million into the fund for the execution of the project, it would help ensure that water resources are protected and managed in way good for the environment.
The fund would contribute to achieving precautionary principle in the National Water Policy aimed at minimizing activities that have the potential to affect the integrity of water resources.
Minister of Sanitation and Water Resources Mad. Lydia Seyram Alhassan represented by Rev Arnold Dzadzra commended CRS and the partners for the project to safeguard Ghana’s water resources and ensure sustainable improved agricultural practices to boost food security in the country.
“Ghana is facing several water resource management challenges due to human induced environmental degradation coupled with rapid population leading to climate change. Our cities are expanded and increasing water demand has brought challenges to the water suppliers” she said.
Unfortunately many of our water sources within the sub basins of the White Volta have been polluted making it difficult for residents to access clean water for domestic and commercial activities, she added.
She therefore called for collaboration to enhance the project to address the welfare of citizens within the enclave.
Northern Regional Minister Alhalji Shani Alhassan Shaibu reiterated government commitment to support the project to improve clean water and enhanced agricultural practices.
Mayor of Tamale Metropolis Sule Salifu noted that the project has the potential to protects, improved and sustained the environmental ecosystem on the White Volta River basin as well as improve the livelihoods of the smallholder farmers along the basin.
He assured of the support of all the Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDCAs) cooperative and support to protect and ensure that the goals and objectives of the intervention is achieved.
Acting Executive Secretary of WRC Dr. Bob Alfa noted that illegal activities at the basins are affecting the quality of the water supply and therefore the need for collaboration to help achieve the agenda of CRS to protect the water bodies against such activities.
The rapid growth of population coupled with the effects of climate change has led to the increasing pressure on the scarce water resources. The White Volta basin has been affected severely by illegal mining and sand winning activities affecting the quality of the water, he said.
Acting Country Representative CRS Ghana Wilfred Haruna said the fund provide lasting solution to the water supply challenges in Tamale and surrounding communities by promoting collective investment for source water protection at the Nawuni sub-catchment of the White Volta rive through nature-based solutions.
CRS is committed in bridging the funding gap in addressing source water pollution for guarantee water security, he said.
At CRS, we ensure that communities and thrive in sustainable landscapes and also collaboration with traditional leaders to find lasting solution to the watershed management challenges, he added.
