21/05/2026
Restoring Our Basins: Ghana Scales Up Nature-Based Solutions for Water Security 🌳💧🇬🇭
The Water Resources Commission (WRC), in partnership with The Nature Conservancy and the Nature for Water Facility, is launching a nationwide effort to protect our rivers and secure Ghana’s water future. Through Watershed Investment Programmes (WIPs), we are tackling the heavy threats of illegal mining, deforestation, and sand winning.
Following successful models in the White Volta and Black Volta Basins, the goal is now to scale these nature-based solutions across the country.
The Urgent Reality:
White Volta Basin: Supplies water to over 375,000 people in Tamale and surrounding areas. Severe degradation and massive daily sand mining have forced the Dalun Water Treatment Plant to lose 20% to 30% of treated water due to excessive sedimentation (global average is just 2–3%).
Black Volta Basin: Supports 1.6 million people and 25% of Ghana’s hydro-power via the Bui Dam, but faces severe erosion and infrastructure threats.
The Solution & The Return:
Science shows that investing in forest restoration, river buffer zones, and sustainable farming can reduce sediment pollution in parts of the Black Volta by up to 89%. Even better? Analysts estimate that every $1 invested in these nature-based solutions can generate up to $5 in economic benefits through improved water quality, energy security, and job creation!
True sustainability means empowering people. This initiative includes local livelihood support like solar-powered irrigation, beekeeping, and aquaculture. As our project coordinators say: "This should be a programme from communities for communities."
A massive thank you to our incredible partners making this West African water security model a reality: PURC, GWL, Bui Power Authority, Guinness Ghana, Catholic Relief Services, and the Conrad Hilton Foundation. 🙌🌍
