Water scarcity- A thirsty future for Ghana’s development

Water resources expert Ing. Prof. Zakaria Issaka has stated that the progress on achieving the water and sanitation targets of SDG 6 has been slow and uneven in Ghana. According to him 76% of households in Ghana are at risk of unsafe drinking water. Women and girls are generally responsible for more than 70% of water collection, spend several hours a day on this task which undermines their health and livelihood opportunities. The first target of SDG 6 is to achieve universal and equitable access to safe and affordable drinking water for all.

He noted that farmers continue to rely heavily on rainfall for food production. The rains have not been favorable this year, and several hectares of crop land experience water stress and drought which is likely to affect many households next year. With increasing climate change, temperatures and crop evaporation levels, and there is growing uncertainty concerning the timing, duration, and quantity of rainfall that increases the risks to food production. Fertilizer use and livestock excreta on crop land are key sources of agricultural water pollution, affecting aquatic life and threatening human health. He added that with respect to the other SDG 6 targets, such as water use efficiency, water-dependent ecosystems, and integrated water management, progress has been slow and is often not well understood due to the lack of effective monitoring mechanisms and insufficient data. The availability and access to clean water is deemed as a human basic necessity which is needed to propel the development of every economy. However, Ghana is currently bedeviled with looming threats that can push us into a “thirsty future”. It is worth noting that water scarcity is not just a distant possibility but a growing reality that demands the immediate attention and automatic alacrity of all stakeholders.

Husein Mansuur an environmental expert added that while water availability differs dramatically around the globe, differences in access are most often due to politics, a lack of capacity and investment, and flawed water management strategies. Increasing urbanization and changing diets are affecting the demand and supply of water resources for food systems and aggravating water stress problem in Ghana. Available information from GSS show that the Ghana’s urban population has been growing rapidly, with over 57.98% of the population living in urban areas since 2013. The rapid urbanization has led to an increase in water demand, putting strain on the already limited water resources and infrastructure. The demand for water has outpaced population growth, and half Ghana’s population is already experiencing severe water scarcity that threatens its development. He added that some residents in urban areas have dug wells without following regulations which ends up getting contaminated. Residents in densely populated urban areas drill wells because of the failure by local authorities to provide clean, safe, and portable water, despite having an obligation to provide safe, clean, and potable water in terms of Section 12 of WRC Act 522 of the Constitution of Ghana. Open wells, often contaminated with pollutants and sewage, become breeding grounds for spread of the disease within communities. The challenges associated with illegal mining in Ghana is destroying the environment, and adding to water scarcity and damaging farmlands and crops such as cocoa. Research links water pollution from galamsey to chronic diseases such as kidney failure, birth defects and cancer, as seen in many of Ghana’s mining communities.

Notwithstanding the threats, there is hope for Ghana to avert a “thirsty future” and protect its water resources sustainably. We need to confront the situation head-on devoid of partisan politics, and push government and development partners to realign their priorities around the importance of water management. Investments in infrastructure and sanitation facilities and the protection and restoration of water-related ecosystems are steps that are necessary to ensure access to safe and affordable drinking water. Civil society organizations should work closely with authorities to ensure they are accountable, invest in water research and development, and promote the inclusion of women, youth, and indigenous communities in resource governance. It is essential that water institutions, stakeholders and users understand, respect and comply with the rules, statutes and laws established. Investment in monitoring, baseline data and publicly available information is crucial. Data must account for resource conditions in time and space, and ‘follow the water’ - where it is being withdrawn, who is using it, what proportion is returned, and what changes in quality are occurring. This will help decision-makers to understand who benefits and who pays the costs of water resource allocations and infrastructure. There are overlapping mandates between federal government and river basin authorities, and between basin authorities and regional government. Roles and responsibility for water management and provision of water must be clearly defined.