Black Volta Basin Board inaugurated at Wa

An eighteen-member Black Volta Basin Board has been inaugurated at Wa in the Upper West Region with a call on the board to step up public education on proper management of water resources. 

Upper West Regional Minister, Alhaji Amidu Sulemani, who inaugurated the board tasked it to prevent farming near and on river banks, development in waterways and sensitize people to the need to protect water resources. 

The board is under the auspices of the Water Resources Commission. 

Its membership comprises of seven district assemblies from Upper West, Northern and Brong Ahafo regions, Minerals Commission, EPA and Forestry Commission. The rest are Community Water and Sanitation Agency, SADA, Coalition of NGOs in Water and Sanitation, Regional House of Chiefs and Department of Women. 

The Regional Minister said a significant number of the population in the Upper West Region depend on the Black Volta Basin for water supply, irrigation, livestock, cottage industries and recreation for their livelihoods. 

He said regrettably, there are key problems and challenges that negatively affect the sustainable use of the water resources of the Black Volta for socio-economic development of the people.

Alhaji Sulemani expressed concern about the activities of some illegal miners who dispose poisonous substances into the Black Volta which will soon serve as source of drinking water for the people of Wa and its environs. 

The Regional Minister asked the board to work in accordance with the guiding principles of integrated water resources management. He spelt out some of the responsibilities of the board. 

They include assisting to investigate, register and grant permit for water usage, monitor water users for compliance and evaluate programmes for the utilization and management of water resources of the basin. 

The Executive Secretary of Water Resources Commission, Ben Ampomah, said the inauguration of the board brings to six, the number of basins established so far. 

He said membership of the board was arrived at after series of consultations with key actors. 

Mr Ampomah said Water Resources Commission chose the Black Volta Basin as the sixth basin to continue with the process of further developing and implementing viable and sustainable decentralized Integrated Water Resource Management, IWRM. 

He said for the board to function effectively, Water Resources Commission Basin Office has been established at Wa. 

The office will act as Secretariat for the Board. 

He expressed gratitude to the Upper West Regional Coordinating Council for the support it offered in acquiring the office for the Secretariat.

GBC