The Usage and Management of Transboundary River Resources for Sustainable Livelihood in the Bawku Area

Abstract

Water is essential to almost all human activities including agriculture, domestic use and industry and among others. This study has therefore assessed the usage and management of the White Volta River in the Bawku area for livelihood. The study used cross-sectional data collected from households, river user groups, Government and Civil Society Organisations in three riparian communities of the White Volta in the Bawku area. The data was analyzed using statistical packages such as the SPSS and MINITAB. The results have been presented in tables to suit the objectives of the study. The study results show that riparian communities in the Bawku area mainly use the White Volta resources for several livelihood activities such as rainy season cropping, dry season gardening, livestock rearing, fishing and river transportation, and sand winning and bricks molding. High crop yield along the River was found to be associated with the River's resources which provides ideal condition for improved rainy season cropping and dry season gardening. Large scale production of livestock in the communities was found to be associated with river resources which provide abundant water and pasture for livestock rearing. The all-year round flowing of the River due largely to the construction of the Bagre Dam in Burkina Faso has not only improved dry season gardening and livestock rearing but has also made it possible for river transportation in some of the riparian communities. The construction of the Dam has however affected fishing which is traditionally undertaken in stable waters whenever the River dries up. Several factors such as flooding, destruction of farms by animals and drying up of some parts of the River are some challenges to effective utilisation of the River for livelihood in the riparian communities. Concerns have been raised that the nature of some of the livelihood activities such as cropping very close to the River and over grazing by animals lead to erosion and siltation which affect the flow of the River. For the management of the River, study has found that customary beliefs and practices are being used for preserving the River resources at the communities' level. It was however found that these customary practices are losing their usefulness due to modern religious beliefs and practices. Nevertheless, national and international organisation as well as civil society interest was found to be growing towards the management and preservation of the White Volta. The GLOWA Volta Project and the IUCN are working in collaboration with national institutions such as the WRC to implement Projects for improving water governance and preservmg the ecosystem of the Basin. The study concludes that the sustenance of the River is crucial for the development of the riparian communities. Integrated river resources planning and management with much participation of the local communities, Government and Civil Society Organisations is therefore recommended for efficient utilisation and management of the River resources in the riparian communities.