Connectivities and Linkages Within the Volta Basin

Charles A. Biney Ag. Executive Director

Volta Basin Authority Ouagadougou, BF

The Volta Basin – Surface Waters I

The Volta Basin – Surface Waters II

Sub-basin

Area (km2)

Mean Flow

% Contribution

White Volta

104,749 220 20

Black Volta

149,015 200 18

Oti 72,778 280 26

Others 36

Volta Estuary, Ada – Ghana

The Volta Basin – Groundwater Resources

Geological Map -Volta Basin Groundwater Potential -Volta Basin

Rainfall and Agro-Ecological Zones

i. Spatial variability - south-north gradient;

ii. Medium-term variability -alternating dry & wet periods basin-wide;

iii. Strong spatial and short-term variability within a given season

• The Sudano-Sahelian Zone: 500-900 mm – BF and MA

• The Sudanian Zone: 900-1,100 mm – northern GH, CI, BE & TG

• The Guinean Zone: >1,100m; bimodal rainfall; southern GH

Agro-climatic Zones -Volta Basin

Temperature and Humidity

Spatial Distribution of Temperatures

• Annual mean temperatures: 27- 30 C;

• Daily temperatures as high as 32 - 44° C;

• North – South temperature gradient;

•• Humidity range: 6 - 83%;• Total evaporation lower

in August.

Population

Population Density -Volta Basin

• Basin population 18.6 million in 2000;

• Projected to reach 33.9 million in 2025;

• Rural pop. 70% ;

• Live on natural resources

Economic Profile I

HDI of Volta Basin Countries and Other Areas

• Poor countries;

• Export of primary commodities;

• 2009 HDI <0.50

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Economic Profile II

• GNI of SSA - ca 12% of world av.

• Low energy and power uses

• Low CO2emissions

• Low access to improved water sources / sanitation

Comparison of Selected Socio-Economic Indicators

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SSA

Water Demand

Total Water Demand (m m3): 1990-2025

• Consumptive uses: domestic and industrial water supply, crop irrigation and livestock;

• Non-consumptive: hydropower generation, fisheries, recreation and tourism.

• Water demand projected to increase > 1000% 2000 - 2025.

WEAP model Projections: • Ouagadougou to experience

shortages in dry months, from 2013;

• By 2030 only 42% of Bagreirrigation demand will be met;

• The conditions will worsen in very dry years.

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Development and Impacts -Large Dams/Reservoirs

Hydropower DamsSub-basin Location Year Capacity

(MW)CurrentLower Volta Akosombo 1964 912Lower Volta Kpong 1981 160Black Volta Bui Construction 400Oti Kompienga 1984 14White Volta Bagre 1992 16Oti Benin 14Planned (e.g.)Black Volta Samendeni 62Oti Juale 87White Volta Pwalugu 48White Volta Daboya 43

Impacts of Large Dams in Volta Basin

PositivePower generation;Eradication of river blindness

& sleeping sickness;Flood protection;Navigation;Irrigation and fisheries;

NegativeAkosombo Volta Lake 4% of Ghana;Loss of forests and arable lands;Displacement of 80,000 pop;Barrier to fish migration;Interruption of sediment transport;Elimination of floodplain fisheries;Loss of fish speciesDev. of sandbar at estuary;Coastal erosion;Increase in bilharzia and malaria;Invasion of exotic aquatic species;Migration of youth to urban areas;Bagre – downstream flooding;Increased transboundary tension.

Small Reservoirs in the Volta Basin

In response to continuing drought conditions –

• Rapid upstream expansion of small reservoirs since 1970s;

• 80% of small reservoirs in BF;• Future expansion expected;

• Predicted impact on hydropower generation minimal compared to climate change;

• Small reservoirs are important for water supply fisheries;

• But responsible for spread of some water related diseases.

Agricultural Production Systems• Agricultural production about

40% of basin economic output;• Most cultivation still rain-fed;• Production increases largely

due to expansion of agric. land; • Cropping systems distributed

in the agro-climatic regions; • Livestock - important upstream

water use; • Fisheries in large reservoirs;Specific negative impacts • Forests over-exploitation and

degradation: for firewood, charcoal and lumber, cash crops, over-grazing;

• Loss of top soil, erosion and salinisation;

• Over-exploitation of fisheries

Irrigated agriculture relatively developed in BF

Industrial Activities• Relatively low industrial activity;

• Typical of most SSA countries, industrial activities in capital cities and along coast;

• Ouagadougou, only national capital in basin;

• No significant withdrawals from industries;

• Localized pollution from industrial zones –beverages and textiles

Climate Change I• Climate change - major challenge to sustainable

development in Africa;• African countries among the most vulnerable to CC;Geographical location characterised by already warmer

and relatively dry climate; Economies rely on climate-sensitive sectors - agriculture,

fisheries, forestry;Widespread poverty, conflicts, poor socio-economic

infrastructure, limited human and inst. capacities, and inadequate technologies and financial resources.

• Fastest population growth in the world • Africa likely to increase share of global emissions• The poor highly vulnerable

Climate Change IIWithin the Volta basin, predicted negative impacts

include: • Increasing temperatures; • Reduced rainfall / decreased availability of water;• Water quality deterioration;• Reduced hydropower generation;• Spread of some water-related diseases; • Increased poverty;With water resources already stressed by non-climatic

factors• Rapid population growth and development, and • Deforestation Impacts of climate change will further aggravate the

situation.

Water Governance in the Volta Basin IProgress made in water governance last 30 years• part of national development activities • world-wide recognition of environmental / ecosystem issues;Reforms in Ghana since the 1980s, International Drinking Water Supply

and Sanitation Decade • Establishment of institutions to increase access to safe drinking

water and sanitation, • Creation of favourable conditions for increased private sector

participation;• Independent regulation of tariffs;• Ghana Environmental Action Plan - 1985• Environmental Protection Agency Act - 1994• Water Resources Commission Act - 1996

Sub-regional level - ECOWAS Action Plan for IWRM• Establishment of ECOWAS Water Resource Coordination Centre • Establishment of Volta Basin Authority – 2007

Water Governance in the Volta Basin IIIn spite of the progress made, challenges still remain;

UNEP/GEF TDA - 8 priority transboundary concerns:• Changes in water quantity and seasonality of flows• Degradation of Aquatic Ecosystems• Degradation of Surface Water Quality/Pollution• Invasive Aquatic Species• Land Degradation/ Loss of Vegetative Cover• Loss of Biodiversity• Water related diseases• Coastal Erosion

Other challenges include • insufficient political support, • lack of financial resources, • gaps in information, • insufficient stakeholder participation and• poor institutional coordination and collaboration.

VBA 5-year Strategic Plan: 2010-2014

Way Forward I• Development in the Volta basin will continue;• Increases likely to occur in hydropower storage and

irrigation sectors;• For future development, more consideration to

development of micro-hydropower facilities;• Recommendations from ESIAs to be strictly

implemented and monitored;• For already existing facilities, need to consider

mitigation options e.g., current initiatives in Ghana.Reoptimization of Akosombo and Kpong Dams to Restore

Downstream Livelihoods and Ecosystems• Flow pattern from the dams that more closely mimics

previous natural conditions;• Require change in hydropower production scheduling,

added thermal generation and linkage to the West African Power Pool

Way Forward II• Climate change adaptation strategies in VB should go

beyond surface water issues• In spite of various studies carried out, more information is

required in order to:a) Inform international negotiations critical for Africa’s future;b) Assist in transformation to a low-carbon development;c) Monitor and evaluate impacts and effectiveness of remedial

measures;• Further research and studies:

modeling, environment monitoring, and climate risk management improving knowledge and integrated management of transboundary groundwater resources;sustained basin-wide observations and monitoring networks;

• Satellite technology• improved data sharing;

Way Forward IIIRecognition of:

• linkages beyond basin including trade, global economic fluctuations and natural or man-made disasters

• Climate change as presenting diverse opportunities • Importance of political process• The Volta basin is an opportunity for sustainable

developmentFuture dev. to take into account impacts of climate and other global changes and need to develop, adapt and use low carbon technologies. Development to take advantage of the experiences of more developed basins - over-building of infrastructure is a future threat that should be resisted Short-term needs for income generation should not over ride long-term sustainability concerns.

THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION