Ghana could face a severe clean water crisis by the year 2030 if immediate and collective action is not taken to protect its water resources, Dr. Justice Aduko, Project Manager for Blue Deal Ghana, has warned.

Dr. Aduko issued the caution during a sensitisation workshop organised by Blue Deal Ghana for members of the Gambaga-Sub-Basin Committee under the White Volta Basin Secretariat of the Water Resources Commission.

Citing scientific studies, Dr. Aduko stressed that the country’s water bodies are under escalating threat due to a combination of pollution, illegal mining, poor waste management, and the impacts of climate change.

“The most pressing concern is illegal mining,” he stated. “It not only consumes vast amounts of water but contaminates it with hazardous chemicals, rendering it unsafe for human and environmental use.”

Dr. Aduko explained that the Blue Deal Project, backed by the Dutch government, aims to build the capacity of local stakeholders in water resource management to help avert a global water crisis.

The initiative aspires to ensure that 20 million people worldwide gain access to clean, safe, and adequate water.

In Ghana, the project is being implemented in collaboration with the Water Resources Commission, focusing on the White Volta and Lower Volta Basins.

It promotes Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) approaches that address vital areas such as drinking water, sanitation, irrigation, reforestation, and disaster risk reduction.

Key elements of the project include strengthening governance systems, enhancing institutional structures, and encouraging the transfer of knowledge related to water quality, quantity, and safety.

Participants at the workshop were drawn from various districts and sectors.

They received training in conflict resolution, trust-building, decision-making, gender dynamics, and effective communication skills deemed essential for achieving sustainable and coordinated water management at the community level.

Sabastein Salia Yiah, an engineer who took part in the training, described the workshop as transformative.

“It was a real eye-opener. Before we can educate others about water conservation, we need to be well-informed ourselves. Each of us has a critical role in protecting our water bodies, especially as climate change intensifies,” he said.

Dr. Aduko reaffirmed Blue Deal Ghana’s commitment to equipping stakeholders, including local opinion leaders, with the tools and strategies to protect water resources.

These include tree planting, proper waste management, and combating illegal mining activities near water sources.

“Water is life,” he concluded. “Without it, sustainable development is impossible. We must act now, and we must act together.”