The Water Resources Commission (WRC) has joined the global community in marking Ghana’s maiden participation in World Rivers Day with a comprehensive series of activities in the South Tongu District of the Volta Region. The celebration, held under the theme “Our Rivers, Our Future,” featured buffer zone restoration, river tracing, and educational programs aimed at protecting the Lower Volta River.
On Tuesday, October 14, 2025, the Lower Volta Basin Secretariat of the WRC led a buffer zone restoration exercise involving the planting of several tree species along the riparian zone of the Lower Volta River in Sogakope. The activity, which took place on a one-acre plot of land, brought together diverse stakeholders, including government agencies, local authorities, traditional leaders, religious figures, and media representatives.
Mr. Godwin Abakari, Basin Officer of the Lower Volta Basin Secretariat, who led the initiative alongside his colleague Ms. Priscilla Daddah, emphasized the critical importance of protecting Ghana’s water bodies. In his address to stakeholders, Mr. Abakari highlighted alarming statistics showing that Ghana’s per capita renewable water resources have declined dramatically from 1,900 cubic meters per year in 2016 to 1,500 cubic meters per year currently. He warned that if current trends continue, this figure could further decline to 1,000 cubic meters per year, which would classify Ghana as a water-scarce country.
“There is an urgent need to protect our water bodies to prevent erosion, pollution, and other environmental issues that can affect our rivers,” Mr. Abakari stated. “Currently, Ghana is battling with pollution of our water resources from illegal mining, plastic waste, and deforestation. We must step in to raise awareness of the necessity of protecting our river bodies since our rivers serve major purposes in human activities, including agriculture, fishing, transportation, and providing drinking water.”
World Rivers Day, celebrated annually on the fourth Sunday of September, is a global event dedicated to raising awareness about the importance of rivers and promoting their conservation. The year 2025 marked a historic milestone as Ghana participated in the celebration for the first time, with activities conducted simultaneously across all eight river basins in the country.
The buffer zone restoration event in Sogakope was graced by a wide array of stakeholders, including representatives from the Environmental Protection Authority (EPA), National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO), Ghana Water Limited, the Fisheries Commission, the Forestry Commission, the Ministry of Food and Agriculture (MOFA), the South Tongu District Assembly, Assembly Members for Sogakope Central and Sogakope South, the Traditional Council, and religious leaders, including the Catholic priest and chief imam of Sogakope.
The event began with an opening prayer by the Catholic priest of Sogakope, followed by welcome remarks from Ms. Priscilla Daddah, who served as moderator. Mr. Godwin Abakari then delivered a comprehensive address outlining the four major activities planned for the Lower Volta Basin’s World Rivers Day celebration: buffer zone restoration, river tracing, school quiz competitions, and the mounting of river signage. The representative of the District Chief Executive also addressed the gathering, calling on all stakeholders to collaborate in protecting and restoring Ghana’s rivers for present and future generations. The event concluded with a closing prayer by the Chief Imam of Sogakope, reflecting the interfaith and inclusive nature of the initiative.
On Wednesday, October 15, 2025, the WRC conducted a river tracing activity along approximately one kilometer of the Lower Volta River to assess and document the current status of the river and identify sources of pollution. The exercise revealed several critical environmental challenges, including invasion by water hyacinth, pollution from washing activities at riverbanks, buffer zone violations by hotels and resorts, illegal sand dredging at Mepe/Bator, unauthorized water abstraction, and waste runoff into the river.
Stakeholders who participated in the river tracing activity expressed appreciation for the WRC’s efforts and called for broader collaboration among agencies to address the identified issues. They also committed to helping educate the populace on the need to preserve rivers.
As part of the comprehensive World Rivers Day activities, the Lower Volta Basin Secretariat also organized quiz competitions in the Sogakope Basic School B in an attempt to educate students on the importance of protecting rivers and their connection to livelihoods. Ms. Priscilla Daddah also admonished the school to continue collaborating with various institutions to bring to light the dangers of polluting river bodies.
Additionally, the WRC officers of the Lower Volta Basin announced plans to mount informational signage along the Lower Volta River for easy identification and to promote environmental education and tourism.
The buffer zone restoration and river tracing activities represent concrete steps toward reversing the degradation of Ghana’s water resources and ensuring the sustainability of rivers for future generations.
*By: Diana Selasi Tettey*
