The process is part of efforts towards decentralizing Water Resources management through Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) approach.

The five sub-basins include Noumbiel, Dapola, Bamboi, Bui, and Vonkoro sub-basins.

Mr Joachim Ayiiwe Abungba, the Black Volta Basin Officer, during one of the committee’s event at the Noumbiel sub-basin in Wa on Wednesday said the committees would play the role of supporting the Basin Secretariat in managing water resources in the basin through the IWRM approach.

Land degradation caused by mineral mining and sand winning, deforestation and river bank degradation as well as siltation of river channels were cited as some of challenges that prompted formation of the committees to support the Basin Secretariat deal with them.

Other problems named included inadequate awareness on water management in the Basin; weak institutional coordination, inadequate information and data; and water pollution especially by illegal miners as well as flooding.

Madam Zenabu Wasai-King, the Upper West Regional Director of Environmental Protection Agency (EPA), and Chairperson of the Noumbiel Sub-basin Committee, commended WRC for making efforts to decentralize management of the country’s water resources.

She said the committee members acting as the ambassadors for sustainable management of the basin’s water resources would work together to ensure their objectives were achieved. The Noumbiel sub-basin composed of six-member members  made up Madam Zenabu, Regional EPA Director - Chairperson; Mr Abobo Alphonsus, Regional Department of Agriculture and Mr Martin Dery, Executive Director of ProNet North and Chairperson for Coalition of NGOs in Water and Sanitation (CONIWAS) as members.

The other members included Mr Suleman Oteng Owusu, Ghana Irrigation Development Authority, Mr Dickson Achindiba, Minerals Commission and Mr Abdul-Rashid Ibrahim, Jirapa Municipal Assembly.