The Dayi River Basin

Part three: conclusions

10 Conclusions

In the Negotiated Approach local stakeholders are involved within Integrated Water Resource Management at three stages of management: within the formulation of strategies, the development and implementation of actions, and the monitoring and evaluation phase. In the Dayi River Basin this involvement in the management of natural resources is crucial. The livelihoods of the people are strongly influenced by their environmental resources, as do their practises strongly influence the environment. Making people understand these interrelated problems is needed to effectively manage the catchment.

Involving the community in water management is not easy, but a first step has been taken by WRC in the setting up of the Dayi Basin Board, in which community participation, is one of the key goals. By including local chiefs, opinion leaders, queenmothers and farmer groups, local stakeholders are part of developing new policies and solutions to the problems they face on a daily basis. This way a foundation for the Negotiated Approach is build.

Furthermore, the ADAPTS projects the Development Institute is running are a good first step towards making people aware of the possibilities in livelihood changes. By adapting the harmful practises of farmers the environment is less degraded and polluted. By helping farmers setting up irrigation systems and respecting the vegetation cover around water bodies, these people will be less vulnerable for the climate changes already taking place. These projects can then serve as pilot cases to be repeated in other areas in the Volta region or even Ghana to make sure that positive behavioural changes are spread and in that way peoples livelihoods are secured.

Obstacles

Several obstacles exist towards a full scale participatory IWRM in the Dayi River Basin. One of the main problems is the lack of communication and collaboration between different departments. Therefore water management is not truly integrated. Another problem is the limited capacity of the Municipal and District Assemblies, as they are now a weak link between the national government and the civil society, while this is one of their main tasks. The two ruling systems, that of the government and the traditional leaders, are now working together, but not to the satisfaction of the chiefs. They feel robbed of their power and only called for when needed. Furthermore, the laws and policies that have been implemented or will be implemented are not going to be enforced properly by the institutions changed with this task, therefore making their influence limited.

The Dayi Basin Board has a number of problems. First, the board is not fully implemented yet, and therefore not making a positive contribution to integrated water management or bottom-up participation. This is because of a lack of budget and the high dependency on the WRC to arrange for meetings and funding. When this high dependency on the WRC will not change, it will create a barrier for local initiatives and true stakeholder involvement. Also, the true power the board has stays unclear, but in the Dayi River Basin IWRM Plan the board is described as having a ‘consultative and advisory role as it relates to the management of the the Dayi River Basin’s water resources’.¹⁵⁶

Another problem is the institutional memory within the board itself and governmental departments: because of bad handing over of tasks, some board members are not even aware of their position in the board. A last problem is the absence of a board member specifically focused on sanitation, while this is an important contributor to the pollution of the water bodies in the catchment.

Solutions

Although the board remains a challenge, the board members are willing to work towards participatory water management. To tackle these obstacles, different steps need to be taken:

• 
  A first step is to find a solution for the budget problems of the WRC; through the release of the budget by national government or by the help of donor funding. Of course, in time the budget of the board should not be dependent on donor funding, and a sustainable way to finance the boards activities needs to exist.
  
• 
  The WRC can put up the planned subcommittees and the local office, which will make the board members more involved and the process of managing the water resources more grounded. Then a clear plan on how the board will be managed can be decided upon, and the WRC can take a step back in managing every single aspect of the boards running.
  
• 
  The problem with the institutional memory can be solved by putting up a feedback system so that no information gets lost.
  
• 
  The board needs to consider a member specifically focusing on sanitation, since the District Assemblies, who are responsible now, Have many pressing concerns. Without special attention, sanitation as a problem might be lost.
  
• 
  By finding common problems that need to be tackled, like the bush fires or deforestation of river banks, the different board members can work towards the same goals.
  
• 
  Reinforcement of the board can also strengthen the position of District Assemblies as they are the foundation of local governance.
  

The success of the board is dependent on the willingness of its members and the various board members are all eager to make it work. For the people on the ground, it is even more important, as they are the ones truly experiencing the negative consequences of environmental degradation and climate change. Making them aware of their own role in the problem and possible solutions can cause a whole lot of change.

Some problems remain problematic though, and are not easy to solve in upcoming years. The enforcement of laws like the Buffer Zone Policy or other bye-laws concerning the environment is now minimal. To change this a huge effort from the national government and the MMDAs is needed, and a vast change is too much to expect in a short time frame when resources are still such a big problem. Another issue that is difficult to change but deserves some attention is the relationship between the governmental institutions and the traditional leaders like chiefs and queenmothers. Although they are involved, especially on the local level in the District Assemblies, the collaboration could be improved. This would strengthen the bond between governmental institutions and local communities, and with that involve community members more in the management of their resources.

Power of civil society

The role of civil society must be strengthened, in the form of supporting the Basin Board, as in the setting up of more CBOs. The NGO the Development Institute is a crucial player within the board that can strengthening local participation and understand local issues. The DI can empower the local communities as already seen within the ADAPTS project. They can make people aware of their rights, of how they can hold the government responsible, and press for strengthening the law enforcement. Moreover, DI can make sure the different stakeholders on the board have the same conceptual understanding of the issues discussed. The DI is also a link between governmental departments and traditional leaders and farmers. They are the spokespeople for a bottom-up approach.

More attention by other NGOs would be of great support, and initiatives from CBOs should be supported since their motivation and local knowledge is strong. At the moment, not many CBOs seem present in the Dayi River Basin, but several informants stated that these organizations are most welcome; the motivation and personal drive is there. These NGOs and CBOs can also be complementing the work of governmental institutions when problems arise that fall outside of their mandate (as in the case of WRC implementing the Buffer Zone Policy, but is not being able to take care of all the farmers who then lose their land and livelihood).

Although the Basin Board cannot be seen as a perfect example of the Negotiated Approach, it does show that there is potential for participatory institutions within West-Africa.

Bibliography

Ashon, E. K. (2002): An evaluation of bush fire prevention and control policy in Ghana.

Both ENDS and Gomukh Environmental Trust for Sustainable Development (2011) Involving Communities: A Guide to the Negotiated Approac in Integrated Water Resource Management.
Development Institute. ADAPTS Ghana Case. Market study for agricultural production in the Dayi Basin, Volta region in Ghana.
Development Institute, First draft inception report by Ken Kinney.
Hohoe Municipal Assembly (September 2011): Municipal SEA Report on Medium Term Development Plan: Ghana shared growth and development agenda – (GSGDA 2010-2013).
Interview Canadian Embassy (CIDA), Anik Desmeules-Raggio and Eunice Annan-Aggrey, on the 16^th of May.
Interview Chief of Hohoe, Chief Gabusu the sixth on the 10^th of May 2013.
Interview Cocoa Board, regional manager Dr. Ofori-Gyampfi on the 24th of April 2013
Interview Community Water and Sanitation Agency, Antoinette on 26^th of April 2013.
Interview Department of Gender, Thywill Kpe on the 9th of April 2013.
Interview Development Institute, executive director Ken Kinney on the 28th of May 2013.
Interview Dutch Embassy, Ton van der Zon on the 16th of May 2013.
Interview Environmental Protection Agency, Togbe Ahorney on the 10^th of April 2013 and 4^th of May 2013.
Interview Fire Service, Norbert Asu and Michael Osei, on the 5th of April 2013.
Interview Forestry Commission, Edith on the 5^th of April 2013.
Interview Forestry Commission, William Baah on the 14^th of May 2013.
Interview Ghana Water Company Limited (26^th of April 2013) with Eric Avornyo.
Interview Jasikan District Assembly, Deeg Kenkubor on the 24^th April 2013.
Interview Ministry of Food and Agriculture, Mr. Philip Kofi Tibu on the 23^rd of April 2013.
Interview Planning Department Ho, mr. F. Boateng on the 9th of April 2013.
Interview Queenmother Kpando, Grace Medenu on the 2^nd of May 2013.
Interview Water Resource Commission, Principal Water Resources Engineer Bob Alfa on the 29^th of April 2013.
Interview Woadze, Nelson Adzamoah, resident of Woadze on the 7th of May 2013.
Interview Woadze farmers, Siegfried Apawu, resident of Woadze and member of ADAPTS project, on the 17th of April 2013.
IVM Institute for Environmental Studies (March 2012): Adaptive Water Management at the Local Scale. Synthesis Report: Irrigated farming and agroforestry by farmer groups and river basin management: an adaptation to the changing climate and environment in the Dayi Basin, Volta Region, Ghana. Amsterdam: IVM.
Local Government Act (1993): Act 462, pg. V-3459.
Ministry of Water Resources, Works and Housing (June 2007): The National Water Policy.
Notes on discussion with NGO Development Institute, Ken Kinney, executive director on 29^th of April 2013.
Notes on Tafi Atome, via Asumah Jason Angelbert in April 2013.
Odotei, I.K. and Awedoba, A.K. eds. (2006): Chieftaincy in Ghana: Culture Governance and Development, Legon: Sub-Saharan Publishers.
Statistical service Ghana, Ministry of Health, USAID, UNICEF (2006): Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey, MICS.
Utley, I. (2010): Ghana, the essential guide to customs and culture, Bravo Ltd, Kuperard. fourth printing 2012. Hutton Grove London.
Water Resources Commission (December 2011): Dayi River Basin IWRM Plan. Accra.
Water Resources Management. (December 2012): National Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) Plan.
Websites
Website: www.bridgingdevelopment.org/expeditnpages/sites/wli.htm, visited on the 20^th of June 2013.
Website Development Institute: www.thedevin.org, visited on the 5^th of June 2013.

1 Both ENDS and Gomukh Environmental Trust for Sustainable Development (2011) Involving Communities: A Guide to the Negotiated Approac in Integrated Water Resource Management.

2 Water Resources Commission (December 2011): Dayi River Basin IWRM Plan. Accra, pg 8-9.

3 IVM Institute for Environmental Studies (March 2012): Adaptive Water Management at the Local Scale. Synthesis Report: Irrigated farming and agroforestry by farmer groups and river basin management: an adaptation to the changing climate and environment in the Dayi Basin, Volta Region, Ghana. Amsterdam: IVM, pg 19.

4 IVM (March 2012): pg 19.

5 IVM (March 2012): pg 7.

6 WRC (December 2011): pg 19.

7 IVM (March 2012): pg 7.

8 WRC (December 2011): pg 11.

9 WRC (December 2011): pg 14-16.

10 WRC (December 2011): pg 18.

11 IVM (March 2012): pg 11.

12 WRC (December 2011): pg 19.

13 WRC (December 2011): pg 20.

14 WRC (December 2011): pg 40

15 WRC (December 2011): pg 22.

16 Interview Ghana Water Company Limited (26^th of April 2013)with Eric Avornyo.

17 Information from website: http://www.bridgingdevelopment.org/expeditnpages/sites/wli.htm

18 WRC (December 2011): pg 14.

19 WRC (December 2011): pg 13.

20 Interview Water Resource Commission, Principal Water Resources Engineer Bob Alfa on the 29^th of April 2013,.

21 Interview WRC (29^th of April 2013).

22 Interview Environmental Protection Agency, Togbe Ahorney on the 10^th of April 2013.

23 Interview Dutch Embassy, Ton van der Zon on the 16th of May 2013.

24 Interview Ghana Water Company Limited (26th of April 2013).

25 IVM (March 2012): pg 8.

26 Interview Development Institute, executive director Ken Kinney on the 29th of May 2013.

27 Interview Cocoa Board, regional manager Dr. Ofori-Gyampfi on the 24th of April 2013

28 Development Institute. ADAPTS Ghana Case. Market study for agricultural production in the Dayi Basin, Volta region in Ghana, pg 4.

29 IVM (March 2012): pg 23.

30 Interview Ministry of Food and Agriculture, Mr. Philip Kofi Tibu on the 23^rd of April 2013.

31 Interview Cocoa Board (24th of April 2013).

32 IVM (March 2012): pg 10.

33 Interview Woadze farmers, Siegfried Apawu, resident of Woadze and member of ADAPTS project, on the 17th of April 2013.

34 Interview Ministry of Food and Agriculture (23^rd of April 2013).

35 IVM Institute for Environmental Studies (22^nd of March 2012): Adaptive Water Management at the local scale. Synthesis report Ghana, pg. 9

36 Development Institute: ADAPTS Ghana Case, pg 10.

37 Interview Woadze, Nelson Adzamoah, resident of Woadze on the 7th of May 2013.

38 Interview Department of Gender, Thywill Kpe on the 9th of April 2013.

39 Interview Department of Gender (9th of April 2013).

40 WRC (December 2011): pg 20.

41Interview Woadze, several community members in April and May 2013.

42 Notes on Tafi Atome, via Asumah Jason Angelbert in April 2013.

43 Statistical service Ghana, Ministry of Health, USAID, UNICEF (2006): Multiple Indicator Cluster Survey, MICS.

44 Interview Department of Gender (9th of April 2013).

45 Interview Water Resources Commission (29th of April 2013).

46 Water Resources Commission (2011 December): pg 36.

47 Interview Fire Service, Norbert Asu and Michael Osei, on the 5th of April 2013.

48 Interview Fire Service (5^th of April 2013).

49 Interview Fire Service (5^th of April 2013).

50 Interview Environmental Protection Agency (10^th of April 2013).

51 Interview Water Resources Commission (9^th of April 2013).

52 Interview Development Institute (28^th of May 2013).

53 Interview Environmental Protection Agency (10^th of April 2013).

54 Interview Water Resources Commission (9^th of April 2013).

55 Interview Environmental Protection Agency (10^th of April 2013).

56 Interview Chief of Hohoe, Chief Gabusu the sixth on the 10^th of May 2013.

57 Second Interview Environmental Protection Agency, Togbey Ahorney, on the 4^th of May 2013.

58 Interview Water Resources Commission (9^th of April 2013).

59 Interview Woadze, Mr. Adzamoah (7th of May 2013) .

60 Interview Environmental Protection Agency (10^th of April 2013).

61 Interview Fire Service (5th of April 2013).

62 Interview Development Institute (28^th of May 2013).

63 Water Resources Commission (2011, December): pg 22.

64 Water Resources Commission (2011, December): pg. 22.

65 IVM (March 2012): pg 10.

66 IVM (March 2012): pg. 10.

67 Interview Woadze, Sigfried Apawu (17th of April 2013) .

68 Water Resource Commission (December 2011): pg 24-25.

69 IVM (March 2012): pg 12.

70 Interview Water Resources Commission. (29th of April 2013).

71 Ghana Ministry of Water Resources, Works and Housing (June 2007): The National Water Policy.

72 MWRWH (June 2007): pg. 49.

73 MWRWH (June 2007): pg. 50.

74 Interview Community Water and Sanitation Agency, Antoinette on 26^th of April 2013.

75 MWRWH (June 2007): pg 50.

76 Water Resources Commission. (December 2012): National Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) Plan, pg. 4.

77 Water Resources Commission. (Dec 2012.): Foreword.

78 Ashon, E. K. (2002): An evaluation of bush fire prevention and control policy in Ghana.

79 Interview Fire Service ( 5th of April 2013).

80 Development Institute, First draft inception report by Ken Kinney.

81 Development Institute, First draft inception report by Ken Kinney.

82 Several interviews (April and May 2013): interviews with several stakeholders, e.g. Mr. S. Apawu (17^th of April 2013); Fire Service Ho (5^th of April 2013); Chief of Hohoe, Gabusu the sixth (10^th of May 2013); Water Recource Company, Mr. B. Alfa (29^th of April 2013).

83 Interview Queenmother Kpando, Grace Medenu on the 2^nd of May 2013.

84 Utley, I. (2010): Ghana, the essential guide to customs and culture, Bravo Ltd, Kuperard. fourth printing 2012. Hutton Grove London, pg 66.

85 Odotei, I.K. and Awedoba, A.K. eds. (2006): Chieftaincy in Ghana: Culture Governance and Development, Legon: Sub-Saharan Publishers, pg 11.

86 Utley (2010): pg 67.

87 Local Government Act (1993): Act 462, pg. V-3459.

88 Interview Chief Hohoe (10th of May 2013).

89 Interview Development Institute (28th of May 2013).

90 Interview Chief Hohoe (10th of May 2013).

91 Interview Water Resources Commission (29th of April 2013).

92 Interview Woadze, several community members (April and May 2013).

93 Interview Queenmother Kpando (2nd of May 2013).

94 Interview Planning Department Ho, mr. F. Boateng on the 9th of April 2013.

95Interview Development Institute (28^th of May 2013).

96 Interview Water Resources Commission (29^th of April 2013).

97 Interview Environmental Protection Agency (10^th of April 2013).

98 Interview Development Institute (28^th of May 2013).

99 Interview Forestry Commission Volta Region, Edith on 5^th of April 2013.

100 Interview Dutch Embassy, Ton van der Zon on the 16^th of May 2013.

101 Interview Water Resources Commission (29th of April 2013).

102 Website Development Institute: www.thedevin.org.

103 Interview Canadian Embassy (CIDA), Anik Desmeules-Raggio and Eunice Annan-Aggrey, on the 16^th of May.

104 Interview Dutch Embassy (16^th of May 2013).

105 Interview Dutch Embassy (16^th of May 2013).

106 Interview Dutch Embassy (16^th of May 2013).

107 Water Resources Commission (December 2011): Preface.

108 Water Resources Commission (December 2011): pg. 6

109 Water Resources Commission (December 2011): pg 9

110 Notes on discussion with NGO Development Institute, Ken Kinney, executive director on 29^th of April 2013.

111 Water Resources Commission (December 2011): pg 50.

112 Water Resources Commission (December 2011).

113 Interview Fire Service (5th of April 2013).

114 Interview Water Resources Commission (29^th of April 2013).

115 Interview Environmental Protection Agency (10^th of April 2013).

116 Interview Water Resources Commission (29th of April 2013).

117 Interview Development Institute (28^th of May 2013).

118 Interview Development Institute (28^th of May 2013).

119 Interview Jasikan District Assembly, Deeg Kenkubor on the 24^th April 2013.

120 Interview Development Institute (28^th of May 2013).

121 Interview Environmental Protection Agency (10^th of April 2013).

122 Interview Woadze, Sigfried Apawu (17th of April 2013).

123 Interview Water Resources Commission (29th of April 2013).

124 Interview Water Resources Commission (29th of April 2013).

125 Interview Water Resources Commission (29th of April 2013).

126 IVM (March 2012): pg 32

127 Interview Jasikan District Assembly (24^th April 2013).

128 Interview Forestry Commission, William Baah on the 14^th of May 2013

129 Interview Community Water and Sanitation Agency (26^th of April 2013).

130 IVM (March 2012): pg 32.

131 Hohoe Municipal Assembly (September 2011): Municipal SEA Report on Medium Term Development Plan: Ghana shared growth and development agenda – (GSGDA 2010-2013), pg 23-26.

132 Interview Jasikan District Assembly (24th April 2013).

133 Interview Community Water and Sanitation Agency (26^th of April 2013).

134 Interview Forestry Commission (5^th of April 2013).

135 Interview Water Resources Commission (29th of April 2013).

136 Interview Water Resources Commission (29th of April 2013).

137 Interview Water Resources Commission (29th of April 2013).

138 Water Resources Commission (December 2011).

139 Interview Water Resources Commission (29th of April 2013).

140 Interview Fire Department (5^th of April 2013).

141 Interview Water Resources Commission (29th of April 2013).

142 Interview Water Resources Commission (29th of April 2013).

143 Interview Water Resources Commission (29th of April 2013).

144 Interview Development Institute (28^th of May 2013).

145 Interview Development Institute (28^th of May 2013).

146 Interview Development Institute (28^th of May 2013).

147 Interview Water Resources Commission (29^th of April 2013)

148 Interview Department of Gender (9th of April 2013).

149 Interview Environmental Protection Agency (10^th of April 2013).

150 Interview Environmental Protection Agency (10^th of April 2013).

151 Interview Development Institute (28^th of May 2013).

152 Interview Development Institute (28^th of May 2013).

153 Interview Development Institute (28th of May 2013).

154 Interview Development Institute, Ken Kenney, on the 28th of May, 2013

155 Interview Water Resources Commission (29th of April 2013).

156 Water Resource Commission (December 2011).