World Water Day:A Rocha calls for protection of Ghana’s water sources

A Rocha, an environmentally friendly non-governmental organization is calling for the protection of Ghana’s upstream water sources to ensure water security in the country.

According to them, efforts to provide portable water to household will be a mere waste of the country’s financial resources if the sources from which these waters are from are not protected.

A Rocha made the call in a statement, on Wednesday March 22, to mark this year’s World Water Day (WWD) which is on the theme “Accelerating Change”.

It decries while some African countries suffer from a lack of water, Ghana suffers from too much polluted water adding that potable water sources are diminishing at a fast rate.

“The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) says, the country faces a looming water crisis by 2030 if conditions continue to persist,”

“It is also unfortunate that Ghana’s water sources are continually decreasing in quality and quantity due to several threats including illegal mining, destruction of headwaters encroachment, destruction of vegetation along river banks, pollution from activities such as agricultural waste, urban growth, landscape changes, climate change and the list is unending”.

“The most prominent of all these threats over time has been the destruction of forests that house and protect headwaters and are sources of both major and minor rivers in Ghana that together provide water for millions of Ghanaians and livelihoods for many more”A Rocha in a press release sighted by GhanaPlus.com said.

The organization said “Having worked and interacted with the water sector on several occasions, we have realised that water supply projects cannot be sustained unless the upstream sources of water that feed them are properly secured along with the forests and ecosystems that protect their waterheads”.

It is therefore, calling among others, the protection of the sources, including watersheds, rivers, aquifers, associated ecosystems like forests,wetlands, promotion  of education and awareness among all stakeholders about the intrinsic value of water and its essential role in all aspects of life, ensure adequate investment in institutions and encourage rain water harvesting.

“We also all have a role to play in securing safe water for all: we must use clean water wisely and carefully and not wastefully, remembering that so many amongst us do not have access to the same. When we use water carefully, it means there is more to go round so that more people can use it too,” A Rocha urged Ghanaians.

World Water Day

World Water Day is celebrated annually on March 22 to highlights the importance of fresh and advocate for it sustainable management.

Marked since 1993, the celebration was established by the United Nations to inspire people to learn more about water-related issues and to take action to make a difference.

Press release below

MEDIA BRIEF: World Water Day

March 22, 2023

Yesterday, we together with the rest of the world marked the International Day of Forests (IDF) which called for giving and not just taking from forest as well as recognizing how healthy forests contribute to the health and general wellbeing of people. Today we turn our spotlight to World Water Day (WWD).

Always commemorated on March 22 of every year, WWD was specifically set aside to raise awareness and inspire action to tackle the water and sanitation crisis. This year, the all-important day is hinged on the theme, “Accelerating Change” which is firmly calling for extra efforts to solve the recurring water and sanitation crisis.

According to the United Nations (UN), dysfunction throughout the water cycle undermines progress on all major global issues, from health to hunger, gender equality to jobs, education to industry, and disasters to peace.

Eight years after the world committed to Sustainable Development Goal (SDG) 6 as part of the 2030. Agenda (the promise that everyone would have safely managed water and sanitation by 2030), it looks like we are seriously off-track. There is therefore an urgent need to accelerate change – to go beyond ‘business as usual.’ And because water affects us all, everyone is needed to take action.

Ghana’s Water and Sanitation Status

According to the United Nations Children’s Fund (UNICEF), even though access to water in Ghana has improved significantly, one person out of every 10 has to spend more than 30 minutes to access an improved source of drinking water. Another 11 per cent of the population, still drink from surface and other unsafe water sources.

While some African countries suffer from a lack of water, Ghana suffers from too much polluted water, and potable water sources are diminishing at a fast rate. The Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR) says, the country faces a looming water crisis by 2030 if conditions continue to persist.

It is also unfortunate that Ghana’s water sources are continually decreasing in quality and quantity due to several threats including illegal mining, destruction of headwaters encroachment, destruction of vegetation along river banks, pollution from activities such as agricultural waste, urban growth, landscape changes, climate change and the list is unending.

The most prominent of all these threats over time has been the destruction of forests that house and protect headwaters and are sources of both major and minor rivers in Ghana that together provide water for millions of Ghanaians and livelihoods for many more.

How can Ghana accelerate change?

Access to safe water is vital for people’s health and welfare. Having worked and interacted with the water sector on several occasions, we have realised that water supply projects cannot be sustained unless the upstream sources of water that feed them are properly secured along with the forests and ecosystems that protect their waterheads.

One of the most important forests for this role in Ghana is the Atewa Forest that protects the headwaters of three major rivers providing clean water to over 5 million people, almost one sixth of Ghana’s population. Plans to mine it for bauxite will directly impact these water resources. Investing in new water supply systems for households will be a complete waste of financial resources if the watersheds, forests and ecosystems that feed them are not protected.

On a day such as this, we make a few suggestions on how we can accelerate change for the management of water and its sources.

• Protect the sources, including watersheds, rivers, aquifers, associated ecosystems like forests, wetlands, and used water flow for current and future generations.
• Promote education and awareness among all stakeholders about the intrinsic value of water and its essential role in all aspects of life.
• Invest and innovate – ensure adequate investment in institutions like the Water Resources

Commission (WRC), Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), and in infrastructure, information and innovation to realize the many benefits derived from water and reduce risks.

• Encourage and support rainwater harvesting.
• We also all have a role to play in securing safe water for all: we must use clean water wisely and carefully and not wastefully, remembering that so many amongst us do not have access to the same. When we use water carefully, it means there is more to go round so that more people can use it too.

For further Information

Daryl Bosu

Tel: 0202555727

Email: daryl.bosu@arocha.

Source: GhanaPlus.com