Ghana’s renewable water supply per capita is shrinking at an alarming rate, raising fears that the country may soon face strict water restrictions if urgent measures are not implemented.
This warning came from Dr. Mawuli Lumor, Director of Policy, Planning, Research, Monitoring and Evaluation at the Water Resources Commission (WRC), during an interview on The Point of View on Channel One TV on Wednesday, October 1.
Dr. Lumor explained that the Commission assesses the nation’s water stress levels annually by comparing renewable water resources to population growth. Ghana’s renewable water supply is estimated at about 53 billion cubic meters per year. However, while this figure has remained constant, the country’s population continues to rise.
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“In 2016, renewable water availability per person was about 1,900 cubic meters. Today, it has dropped to roughly 1,500 cubic meters. That’s a sharp decline in less than a decade,” he said.
He added that these figures account for all renewable water, including polluted sources, meaning the actual usable water available per person is even less.
“With our activities further polluting the limited water we have, the situation is becoming increasingly dangerous,” Dr. Lumor cautioned.
He warned that if the downward trend persists, Ghana may be forced to adopt measures similar to South Africa, where authorities restricted household water usage in response to severe shortages.
“Possibly, as happened in South Africa a few years ago, government will have to step in and impose limits on water use in certain areas depending on the stress levels,” he noted.
Story By: Afia Ohenewaa Akyerem