Gov’t guilty of water policy contradiction

… Amidst calls for co-operation

The left-over of mining in Saaman community, Eastern Region

Government is engaged in policy contradictions that weaken the calls for citizens’ and non-state actors’ co-operation in efforts aimed at scaling up access to clean, potable water, according to a quartet of indigenous civil society organisations.
“In our opinion, Ghana is not reaping the full benefits of her huge water resource potential” because “Policy contradictions of the Government have led to the poor water resource management,” the Centre for Environmental Impact Analysis (CEIA), Wacam, the Gender and Environmental Monitoring Advocates (GEMA) and Humanity Focus Foundation (HFF) have argued.

In a statement issued in commemoration of last Friday’s World Water Day (WWD) 2013, the quartet explained that “The decision of the Government to open up forest reserves for mining operations meant the sanctioning of the destruction of watersheds and by extension the killing of rivers and water bodies.”

They cited that government has granted mining lease to Newmont Gold Ghana Limited Akyem Mine to undertake surface mining in the Ajenua-Bepo Forest Reserve, which is the watershed for rivers such as Yaayaa, Adenkyensu, Alotosu, Afosu, Aprapon and Owonta.

In view of Ghana’s practice of a progressive political system that makes governments inherit decisions of previous administrations, the quartet held the present administration responsible for the deeds of its predecessors.

Even so, the organisations recognise the need for non-state actors to co-operate with government in order to secure the nation against experts’ prediction that Ghana would face severe water crisis by 2025. “The current water stress situation in Ghana indicates that more needs to be done by all stakeholders to foster a smooth cooperation in water management,” CEIA and the others noted.

They opined, however, that government must take the lead on co-operation by withdrawing “Environmental Permits it has granted to mining companies to mine in forest reserves of Ghana to demonstrate its commitment to the protection of our water resources.”

In addition, “CEIA, Wacam, GEMA & HFF further call on the Government, which has the primary responsibility of providing quality water to its citizens, to define standard procedures for cooperation and give meaning to it.”

The quartet justified their demand, saying they have witnessed situations where regulatory agencies charged with the responsibility of enforcing laws on water quality had in the guise of co-operation not applied the law when dealing with entities whose activities have had serious negative impacts on water resources in Ghana.

To complement the government, the group of four reiterated the need for stakeholders such as civil society, the media, academia and research institutions as well as the country’s development partners to commit themselves to the imperative of water quality and availability for all citizens, especially the urban poor, by 2015.

Speaking to the same subject of co-operation, the Global Water Partnership (GWP) based in Stockholm, Sweden, issued a separate statement reminding governments as well as non-state stakeholders that WWD 2013 presented a great opportunity for co-operation around water. It said “we need to find ways to ensure that the finite and increasingly stretched global water supply is conserved and shared equitably” and warns that “Failure to do so could result in conflict over access to this vital resource.”

GWP Chair Dr Ursula Schaefer-Preuss is quoted as saying: “Collectively, GWP Partners and allies are promoters of change: changing the way we manage water… To do that means turning non-cooperation on water into cooperation on water.”

It is the view of GWP that “Ensuring that the planet can meet the water needs of future generations is a daunting challenge, and cooperation is not only possible…but it is the only way to achieve a future in which there is enough water for all.”

According to UN Water, WWD 2013 was dedicated to co-operation to reflect 2013 being the International Year of Water Co-operation. The UN body recalls that in December 2010, the General Assembly declared 2013 as the UN International Year of Water Co-operation with the object of raising awareness, both on the potential for increased co-operation, and on the challenges facing water management in the light of the increase in demand for water access, allocation and services.
This was my story published on the front page of the Monday, March 25, 2013 edition of the Public Agenda newspaper.