The evolution of Ghana's water law and policy

Review of European Community and International Environmental Law

Volumn 19, Issue 3, 2010, Pages 339-350

  Agyenim, Joseph B ^a   Gupta, Joyeeta ^a  

^a VU UNIVERSITY AMSTERDAM   (Netherlands)

Author keywords

[No Author keywords available]

Indexed keywords

DEVELOPING WORLD; IMPLEMENTATION PROCESS; INTERNATIONAL LAW; POLICY MAKING; SANITATION; WATER MANAGEMENT; WATER RESOURCE;

GHANA;

EID: 79951823773     PISSN: 09628797     EISSN: 14679388     Source Type: Journal    
DOI: 10.1111/j.1467-9388.2010.00694.x     Document Type: Article

References (72)

1. See J. Dellapenna and J. Gupta (eds). The Evolution of the Law and Politics of Water (Springer Verlag, 2009) generally for a history of water law in different parts of the world.
2. Community Water and Sanitation Agency, Poteble Water Community Based Weter Systems: Netionel Coverage Statistics (Ministry of Water Resources, Works and Housing, 2008).
3. C. Dorm-Adzobu, O. Ampadu-Agyei and P.G. Veit, Religious Beliefs and Environmental Protection: The Malshegu Sacred Grove in Northern Ghana (Centre for International Development and Environment of the World Resources Institute, 1991).
4. Personal interviews with tindenas from Sakom, Bagun and Tilli; and chiefs and elders of Zebilla, Pwalugu, and Sapelega (2008).
5. P. Adjewodah and P. Beier, 'Working with Traditional Authorities to Conserve Nature in West Africa', 1:2 Africen Conservetion Telegraph (Oct-Nov 2004), available at < http://www2.for.nau.edu/research/pb1/Service/Adjewodah- Beier-Tradional-Authority-Conservation.pdf>.
6. Y. Opoku-Ankoma et al., Hydro-Political Assessment of Water Governance from Top-Down and Review of Literature on Local Level Institutions and practices in the Volta Basin, Working Paper III (International Water Management Institute, 2006).
7. Interviews with tindenas from Sakom, Bagun, Tilli, Pwalugu, and Binduri (2008).
8. L. Hens, 'Indigenous Knowledge and Biodiversity Conservation and Management in Ghana', 20:1 Journal of Human Ecology (2006), 23.
9. M. Opoku-Agyemang, Shifting Peradigms: Towerds the Integration of Customary Practices into the Environmental Lew end Policy in Ghana, paper presented by the Water Resources Commission at the conference on Securing the Future, the Swedish Mining Association (Sweden, 25 May-1 June, 2001).
10. G.A. Sarpong, Customary Water Lews and Practices (FAO, 2008), available at .
11. J. Ofori-Boateng, Environmental Lew: Ghane Water lews: Review of Ghana Law (Assembly Press, 1977).
12. Personal conversations with Zebilla Chief and Azure Atia NaabaPwalugu Chief (2008).
13. J. Hauck and E. Youkhana, Histories of Water and Fisheries Management in Northern Ghana, Centre for Development Research, Working Paper 32 (ZEF, 2008).
14. K. Arhin, The Political Systems of Ghana - Background to Transformations in Traditional Authority in the Colonial and Post-Colonial Periods (Historical Society of Ghana, 2002).
15. Interviews with the White Volta Basin Office, White Volta Basin Board Member, District Water and Sanitation Team and the Executive Secretary of the Water Resources Commission (2008).
16. See G.A. Sarpong, n. 9 above.
17. Rivers Ordinance 1903, CAP 226.
18. K. Odame-Ababio, Putting Integrated Water Resources Management into Practice - Ghana's Experiences in Proceedings of the African Regionel Workshop on Watershed Menagement (FAO, 2003), available at .
19. Rivers Ordinance 1903, CAP 226, Section 10.
20. Forestry Ordinance 1927, Cap 157. Section 4(4) states that the Governor in Council may constitute a forest reserve to safeguard the water supply of the district.
21. Land Planning and Soil Ordinance 1953 No 32, Sections 3, 7 and 11 provide that the Minister may declare any area designated to be a planning area for purposes of protection of any stream or river and may make regulations in connection with protecting river banks and maintenance of artificial dams, among others.
22. Water Sector Restructuring Secretariat, Water Sector Restructuring in Ghana: The Decision, the Framework, the Issues (Ministry of Works and Housing, 2002).
23. For example, GWCL developed, managed and controlled drinkingwater supply and, to a very limited extent, sewerage services; IDA develops and manages irrigation and associated land use for agricultural production; and the EPA concerns itself primarily with the environmental implications of water treatment and usage.3
24. See G.A. Sarpong, n. 9 above.
25. W. Scheumann, S. Neubert and M. Kipping, Water Politics and Development Cooperation: Local Power Plays end Global Governance (Springer, 2008).
26. DANIDA, Government of Ghana Component Description - IWRM Component Water and Sanitation Sector Programme Support Phase Il (WSSPSII) No 104 (DANIDA, 2002), at 3.
27. Water, Health and Humanity (A/RES/2994 (XXVII), 15 December, 1972).
28. Assessment of Water Resources, Water Use and Efficiency (A/RES/32/158, 19 December, 1977).
29. Dublin Statement on Water and Sustainable Development (Dublin, 31 January 1992), available at < http://www.inpim.org/files/Documents/DublinStatement. pdf>.
30. Agenda 21 (A/CONF.151/26,14 June 1992), Vols I-III, para. 18.11.
31. M. Ait-Kadi, A. Shady and A. Szollosi-Nagy (eds), Wafer, The World's Common Heritege: Proceedings of the First World Water Symposium, Marrakesh, Morocco, 21-22 March (Elsevier, 1997).
32. Second World Water Forum Ministerial Declaration on Water Security in the Twenty-First Century: From Vision to Action (The Hague, 22 March 2000).
33. Johannesburg Plan of Implementation (UN Doc. A/CONF.199/20,4 September 2002), para. 26.
34. Third World Water Forum, Ministerial Declaration: Message from the Lake Biwa and Yodo River Basin (Kyoto, 23 March 2003), para. 10, available at < http://www.mlit.go.jp/tochimizushigen/mizsei/wwf3/mc/md-final.pdf>.
35. SeB 2005 World Summit Outcome Document (A/RES/60/1, 24 October 2005), para. 56(h).
36. See also United Nations Development Programme, Investing in Development: A Practical Plan to Achieve the Millennium Development Goals (Earthscan, 2005).
37. Global Water Partnership, World Water Forum, Mexico 2006, Implementing Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM): Strengthening Locel Action (Global Water Partnership, 2006).
38. See World Water Assessment Programme, The United Nations World Water Development Report 3: Water in a Changing World (UNESCO, June 2009).
39. See Dublin Statement, n. 28 above.
40. G. Grier Mclnnis, Humen Rights and Water: UN Resolution on Water as a Human Right (Suite101 .com, 2 August 2010), available at < http://www.suite101.com/content/human-rights-and-water-un-resolution-on-water- as-a-human-right-a267581<.
41. V. Fuest et al., Mapping the Water Sector of Ghana: An Inventory of Institutions and Actors, Centre for Development Research (ZEF, undated).
42. Constitution of the Republic of Ghana (1992).
43. See G.A. Sarpong, n. 9 above.
44. Water Resources Commission Act of the Republic of Ghana 1996; Act 522.
45. Ministry of Works and Housing, Water Resources Management (WARM) Study - Information Building Block, Environmental Management Associates (Water Resources Commission, 1998).
46. Water Resources Commission, Annual Report (WRC, 2002).
47. Community Water and Sanitation Agency (CWSA) Act 1998; Act 564.
48. See WRC Act 522, n. 42 above.
49. See WRC Act 522, n. 42 above.
50. Ibid., Part I, Section 2(2)a-i.
51. Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL) Act 1999; Act 461.
52. See CWSA Act 564, n. 45 above.
53. Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC) 1999; LI 1651.
54. Environmental Assessment Regulations 1999; LI 1652.
55. Forestry Commission (FC) Act 1999; Act 571.
56. Water Use Regulations 2001; LI 1692.
57. MWH and CWSA (2003) Bye-Laws of WSDB or WATSANs (updated): MLGRDE (2008) Model Bye-Laws for the Establishment and Operations of Water and Sanitation Development Boards.
58. Community Water and Sanitation Agency, Policy Guidelines, Sector Policy (CWSA, 2005).
59. Drilling Licence and Groundwater Development Regulations; LI 1827.
60. National Water Policy (Ministry of Water Resources, Works and Housing, 2007).
61. Ibid., Part II, Section 3(1)a-e.
62. Ibid., Part II, Sections 3(2) and 4(1).
63. Ibid., Part III.
64. Interviews with youth groups, women groups and fishermen at Zebilla, Yapei, Boania, Bolgatanga and Serigu and with District Director of MOFA Talensi-Nabdam (2008).
65. See WRC Act 522, n. 42 above, Part III, Section 14(1).
66. Ibid., Part III, Section 16(4)-(5).
67. See Constitution of Ghana, n. 40 above, Article 11.
68. Interviews with an opinion leader from Sapellega and the Tindena at Pwalugu (2008).
69. Local Government Act 1993; Act 462.
70. Environmental Protection Agency Act 1994; Act 490.
71. See Environmental Assessment Regulations, n. 50 above.
72. See K. Arhin, n 13 above.