Africa is endowed with both surface and underground water resources however; there is a high variability in the amount of water available for domestic, industrial and agricultural use. Water shortage has become a yearly routine and affects the livelihood security of a majority of the population. As popularly put by Kofi Annan, the Secretary General of the United Nations: “We need to learn how to value water, because, water is life”. According to a study published by the UN Environment Programme (UNEP), groundwater, the unseen source of life for two billion people, is diminishing almost everywhere in the world. The New Partnership for Africa’s Development (NEPAD) initiative recognises the water resource issue as a priority focus and seeks to achieve socio-economic outcomes and sustained poverty reduction.

The water variability in Africa has been caused mainly by pollution, mismanagement, population increase and rapid depletion of forest. Pollution is one of the major problems accounting for low quality and quantity of water resources. Polluting agents emanate from cultivated areas where pesticides and fertilisers that have accumulated in the soil leak into the streams. Persistent felling of trees around the catchment areas of most rivers and dumping of industrial and household waste into the streams are the other factors. There is also a new phenomenon of indiscriminate disposal of polythene materials in some African countries, such as Ghana and Nigeria, worsening the already polluted surface water and preventing underground seepage of water. The result is the poor quality and quantity of water resources we have today. Some 450million people in 29 countries live with chronic water shortages, thus one person in six cannot rely on safe drinking water.

Water resources in Africa have been widely botched and used without regard to any management regulation. Lack of enforcement by authorities of the existing regulations that control the use and the pollution of water aggravate the water resource problem in some countries of Africa. Population increase and the demand for water resources for various uses without a mechanism for recycle and reuse also contribute to the water variability issue.

Rapid depletion of tropical forests is another factor accounting for the low quantity of water resources. For instance, in the 1900s, Ghana was covered by 8.2 million hectares of original moist tropical forest which had reduced to 2.1 million hectares by 1998 and stood at 1.4 million hectares in 2003.

The effects of this includes but is not limited to seasonal water supply shortages for domestic and industrial use and the spread of water related diseases. Seasonal water shortage for domestic, industrial and agricultural uses affect socio-economic development of many countries in Africa. We are all a living testimony to this.

Water related diseases spread as a result of inadequate and safe drinking water for the majority of the populace. Water related diseases kill a child every eight seconds and are responsible for 80% of all illness and deaths in Africa.

Livelihood security of the people is undermined and has the potential to leave the majority of the populace vulnerable to various forms of threats. Where lies the sustainability element of this valuable resource?

Government agencies including ministries, water research institutes, water related bodies, universities, other research institutions, NGO’s and individuals have made several attempts and encouraging statements in the past and still strive in diverse ways to address the problem. Consider encouraging words and statements from government bodies, other institutions and individuals such as these:

“ government will commit itself to ensuring the proper management of water resources to prevent misuse, over exploitation and pollution”

“ better water resource management practices will help improve the quantity and quality of water for all ”

“ management and sustenance of the country’s water resources should be a concerted effort”

“ government, NGO’s, universities as well as research institutions should collaborate to seek a more permanent solution to the problems of the country’s water resources”

“ Rain harvesting, for instance, could save a lot of people from the water shortage”

Despite all these efforts and encouraging statements, the water quality and quantity problem is still worsening day-by-day. For the past years we have largely paid lip service to the long-term consequences of our actions. Our individual behaviour and attitudes damage this valuable resource; let’s think about them now. Never lose hope; all is not lost. Today we are in the position to buy the water of tomorrow.

* David Wellington ESSAW, a Ghanaian, is a PhD Candidate at the Centre for Ecological Economics and Water Policy Research, University of New England, Australia. His interest is in water management and policy issues, development planning and management and community development.

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