Indigenous Water Resource Conservation Practices in Contemporary Ghanaian Society

Abstract

This position paper discusses indigenous water resource conservation practices and modern methods to address challenges in Akwamu traditional area in the Eastern region of Ghana. Africa is bedeviled with environmental crisis in this 21st century, and this has been a major concern to environmental conservationists. In Ghana, one of such environmental crisis is pollution of water bodies as a result of indiscriminate human activities. Some have argued that non-recognition of indigenous knowledge in the management of water resources has been one of the major challenges of water resource crisis in Africa and Ghana is no exception. In the life and thought of indigenous people of Ghana, studies confirm that conservation of water resources is enforced through traditional religiously governed norms which have stood the test of time before formal institutions responsible for biodiversity conservation were established by government. Using Akwamu traditional area in Ghana as a case, this study explores how the indigenous people manage water bodies and to find out the possibility of incorporating indigenous knowledge practices and modern methods to address the current water resource problems in Ghana. Primary and secondary sources are employed for data collection. The study is carried out within the concept of 'worldview' to understand how indigenous people manage the environment through their indigenous belief systems. The findings are that; indigenous knowledge practices are potential tools for addressing water resource crisis in Ghana. The study also indicates that if indigenous knowledge practices are used alongside with the modern methods in water resource management, our water resource problems would be minimized if not totally solved in Africa.

Traditional beliefs and willingness to pay for improving a mining-polluted river in Ghana

“…Given the widespread pollution of rivers in Ghana, one may also wonder about the current potency of traditional beliefs and social norms that guide them. Notably [ 26 ], posits that the widespread pollution of rivers in Ghana is due to overreliance on the “Western” style of solving environmental issues which has overridden the traditional customary laws that guided the use of water resources. As far as the study of natural resources is concerned, indigenous knowledge and traditional religious beliefs have been identified as key to drawing lessons for conservation strategies [ 86 ].…”

“…However, to date, pollution of rivers by galamseyers persists owing partly to the involvement of some politicians, some traditional authorities and foreign nationals [ 23 , 24 ]. It is argued that the ‘top-down’ approach to decision-making on water resource management by formal institutions, where central government decisions are handed down to local communities, has been ineffective [ 25 , 26 ]. Perhaps, a decision-making process that considers the indigenous knowledge and related preferences of local communities could help in the management of water resources.…”

Land use-land cover changes and river basin degradation: A case study of the Densu River in Ghana

“…In addition, due to the encroachment of the DRB water supply which is a key economic sector in Ghana has been greatly affected. The Ghana Water Company Ltd. through the Weija Dam processes water and supplies it to residents in Accra and that serves as a source of revenue to the State and provides direct and indirect jobs (Arthur, 2023;Ghana Statistical Service, 2021;Osei, 2023). The encroachment of the basin has affected the supply of potable water to residents, this has led to the low pressure and erratic flow of water to residents in Accra (Ofosu et al, 2020;Osei, 2023;Pal and Akoma, 2009).…”

“…The Ghana Water Company Ltd. through the Weija Dam processes water and supplies it to residents in Accra and that serves as a source of revenue to the State and provides direct and indirect jobs (Arthur, 2023;Ghana Statistical Service, 2021;Osei, 2023). The encroachment of the basin has affected the supply of potable water to residents, this has led to the low pressure and erratic flow of water to residents in Accra (Ofosu et al, 2020;Osei, 2023;Pal and Akoma, 2009). On Friday, November 3, 2023, a statement put out by the Ghana Water Company Ltd. clearly stated that human activities around the river basin has affected the Weija Dam and in turn led to the erratic flow of water in Greater Accra with areas such as Gbawe, McCarthy Hill, Anyaa, Lapaz, and Darkuman being badly affected due to their elevated location (Arthur, 2023;Koko et al, 2021;Nketia, 2023).…”