The Water Resources Commission (WRC) has raised alarm over the inadequate number of river gauges across the country, warning that the shortfall is undermining effective monitoring, planning, and management of Ghana’s water resources.
According to the Head of the White Volta Basin, Jesse Kazapoe, the limited number of river gauges—critical instruments used to measure water levels and flow—remains a major challenge across Ghana’s key river systems and their tributaries. He noted that this gap is significantly affecting water supply planning, flood preparedness, and agricultural development.
“Before you can determine how much water to treat for consumption or allocate for irrigation, you must first know how much water exists in the system,” Mr. Kazapoe explained. “Without reliable data, planning becomes guesswork.”
River gauges are essential tools in quantifying available freshwater resources, providing real-time data that enables water managers to determine safe levels of extraction for domestic, agricultural, and industrial use. However, the absence of these monitoring systems—particularly along tributaries—means that critical data remains unavailable.
The Commission highlighted that several important river systems, especially within the White Volta Basin, are largely ungauged. This makes it difficult to accurately assess their contribution to overall water availability and complicates development planning.
“If we want to develop irrigation schemes or water supply systems along these tributaries, we first need accurate data on their water yield. Unfortunately, that data is not readily available,” Mr. Kazapoe added.
Beyond water allocation, river gauges also serve as vital early warning systems for floods. A well-distributed network allows authorities to monitor rising water levels upstream and predict how floodwaters will move downstream, offering communities crucial time to respond.
“In the event of flooding, gauges upstream can give communities downstream a two- to three-hour window to prepare and protect lives and property,” the Commission noted. “Without these systems, communities are left vulnerable.”
The lack of a comprehensive gauging network is also driving up operational costs. Without sufficient historical hydrological data, authorities are often compelled to commission new field assessments before implementing water-related projects.
“If we had adequate data from functioning gauges, we could design projects remotely and move straight to implementation. Instead, we spend additional resources on consultants to conduct new hydrological studies,” Mr. Kazapoe stated.
The WRC further emphasized that river gauges are crucial for long-term environmental sustainability. Continuous monitoring helps track trends in water levels, supports evidence-based policymaking, and ensures the protection of river ecosystems while safeguarding water security.
The Commission is therefore calling for increased government investment and stronger stakeholder collaboration to expand Ghana’s river gauging network, describing it as critical for national development and climate resilience.
“As a country, we cannot manage what we do not measure,” the Commission stressed. “Improving our river monitoring systems is not optional—it is essential.”
Mr. Kazapoe made these remarks during a sensitization workshop organized by the WRC in partnership with Blue Deal and other stakeholders for journalists and media practitioners in Bolgatanga, aimed at enhancing technical capacity in water resource reporting.
Source: BlueWaves Radio 93.7 | Maurice Duncan
