The 26 communities surrounding the rim of the largest Crater Lake in Africa, the Lake Bosomtwe, depend on the lake for livelihood support. Water sources such as lake, streams and boreholes used as drinking water sources were collected quarterly for a period of 2 years. These were analysed bacteriologically for the determination of total and faecal coliform, Escherichia coli, Aeromonas sp., Enterococcus sp., Salmonella sp., Pseudomonas sp. and total heterotrophic bacteria (THB) using membrane filtration and pour plate techniques. The seasonal variations of these bacteria in the water sources were determined. The results showed variation of bacteria counts in all the water sources. The highest E. coli counts of 2.9 × 10 3 cfu/100 ml were recorded in the lake and the least in the borehole 2.1 × 10 1 cfu/100 ml. The difference between the total coliform, faecal coliform and E. coli counts and the water sources was significant (p < 0.05). All the bacteria count with the exception of THB, in the different water sources, had higher bacteria counts during the dry season than the wet season which are statistically significant (p < 0.05). The bacteria contamination of these water sources renders them bacteriologically not suitable for drinking purposes; therefore, drinking these waters without any form of treatments could pose health risk to consumers. These water sources can, however, be used for domestic purposes.
Social institutions are one of the most important institutions in communities, especially in rural areas, where decision making depends on the chief, his elders or opinion leaders in the community. The study looked at the hindrances and catalysts they presented, to the introduction of an innovation (fish cage culture) and its acceptance. The paper, presents how Dzemeni and Kpando-Torkor, fishing communities in the Volta Region, are influenced by their social institutions in fisheries activities. Using primary and secondary data, the study investigated the potential of social institutions influence and possible effect on fishery innovation. Results indicated that institutions with better capacities mostly influenced individual and community decisions on livelihood activities. Influence, is in the form of financial support, advice and availability of the right infrastructure, to promote fishery development. It was evident that there were variations in influence and support of the social institutions and differences in the impact between the two communities. The study recommends that, fishery innovations and growth opportunities should be mainstreamed into the maintenance of social institutions or traditional knowledge, in the diffusion of new technologies, for sustainable fishery development.
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