EMMANUEL M. K. AMEKOR,

MANAGER,

VOLTA RIVER AUTHORITY

GHANA MANAGING AND PROTECTING THE WATER RESOURCES OF THE VOLTA LAKE – THE AUTHORITY EXPERIENCE, PRESENTATION PLAN

 Introduction: VRA establishment and Mandates  The Volta Lake Resource  Water Resource Management Projects  Water Resource Protection Projects (Highlights and Implementation Strategies)  Institutional Arrangements  Conclusions VRA ESTABLISHMENT MANDATE ESTABLISHMENT Established under the Volta River Development Act 1961 (Act 46) MANDATE I Primary function is to develop the hydroelectric potential of the Volta River (through the construction of a dam and creation of a lake/) for the generation, transmission and supply/distribution of electrical energy for industrial, commercial and domestic use in Ghana and neighbouring countries VRA ESTABLISHMENT MANDATE

MANDATE II Act 46, 1961 also enjoined the VRA to manage the water resources of the Volta Lake to promote  Tourism,  Lake Transport,  Irrigation,  Inland Water Fishery and  Aquaculture (Cage/Pen fishery). VRA MANDATE AMMENDMENT

AMMENDMENT LAW As part of the effort to encourage private sector participation in the energy sector, the Volta River Development (Amendment) Act 2005 (Act 692) legislation revised the VRA mandate: Transmission component of original mandate entrusted to a new National Grid Company (GRIDCo). VRA now a purely power generation company Enhanced need to protect the water resource AND VOLTA LAKE

Rock-fill dam Completed 1965. The resultant Lake (Volta Lake, the biggest man-made lake) provided the reservoir for storage of water for hydroelectric power generation Initial installed capacity was 912MW AKOSOMBO DAM+ THE VOLTA LAKE RESOURCE •Shoreline = 5,500km THE VOLTA LAKE (NORTH OF AKOSOMBO)

800 00 0 1 00 000 0 120 000 0 140 0 00 0

# Yap e i •Surface Area = 8,500km2 160 000 0 160 000 0

Bu ip e # M pa ha •Average depth = 18.8 metres #

140 000 0 Ka fab a 140 000 0 # N k a nc h in a #

Old Makango # # N Ba nda # •Deepest portion = 90 metres # Ka bies o Yej i •Volume of water in reservoir at # D am ba i 120 000 0 120 000 0

Kete Krachi Kw a dw o k ro m # full supply level of 84.73m # # Ka tan ga # Settlement (selected) V o lta L a k e

NLD = 150 billion m3 Ab o to as e #

100 000 0 Kw a m ik rom 100 000 0 # N to a bo m a # # 0 60 120 N ew K y ia s e Km Agodeke Tono •Seasonal rise and fall =2-6m # Kp an d u # T ok o r #

Brub e n # •Area covered by seasonal Ekyiamanfrom 800 000 # 800 000 # Ad aw s o # N k ete pa

# D ze m e ni fluctuations = 100,000ha # Ak an tim # Ak lus u # Dodi Island

•Main tributaries: river, # Ak os o m b o , , and 600 000 600 000 800 00 0 1 00 000 0 120 000 0 140 0 00 0 WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT - WASTE WATER RE-USE KPONG DAM AND GENERATION PLANT

Built 25 km downstream from Akosombo  Rock-filled dam, completed in 1982.  Total installed capacity = 160 MW. To utilise the waste water from the operation of the Akosombo dam which would otherwise have flowed into the sea. Akosombo and Kpong plants are capable of producing a maximum of 1180MW WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT - TURBINE RETROFIT PROJECT The Akosombo retrofit project in March 2005:  New runners installed improving efficiency from 87% to 93.5% Increased capacity (148MW to 170MW per turbine) from 912MW to 1020MW Reduced volume of water use for generation per unit This management of water use through technology improvement is equivalent to installation of an additional turbine. ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION AFFECTING LAKE WATER RESOURCE AVAILABILITY

BACKGROUND Tree cover depletion in the Lake catchment areas due to dependence of riparian communities on excessive wood usage. Landslide on some of the shoreline of the Lake Environmental degradation due to excessive erosion arising from drawdown farming Siltation of riverbed due to erosion and unacceptable fishing methods called in the local language “ATIGYA” ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION AFFECTING LAKE WATER RESOURCE AVAILABILITY ENVIRONMENTAL DEGRADATION AFFECTING LAKE WATER RESOURCE AVAILABILITY WATER RESOURCE PROTECTION PROJECTS (I)

 Tree Cover Depletion and Minimisation Project – 1984 Project Highlight: Integrated environmental management  Reforestation (Tree Planting) of degraded areas to minimize the depletion of forest resources  Sustainable agro-forestry interventions,  Adoption of fuel-efficient ovens for fish smoking  Energy-saving stoves for household cooking. WATER RESOURCE PROTECTION PROJECTS (I) WATER RESOURCE PROTECTION PROJECTS (II)

Creation of wildlife/forest reserves

Project Highlight: Involves the creation of about 11,400 km2 of forest reserves to protect water courses, headwaters; These reserves also served as habitats for endangered animal and plant species. WATER RESOURCE PROTECTION PROJECTS (III)

 Volta Gorge Protection Project Project Highlight: Protection of Lake Water Strategies:  Acquisition of land within 280 foot contour of the Lake shoreline  Compensation to traditional land owners  MOU with communities to preserve forest area  Creation of “living forest” to provide protection for lake and livelihood for communities WATER RESOURCE PROTECTION PROJECTS (IV)

 Fruit Tree Development Project - 2006 Project Highlight: Alternative Income Generation Strategies:  Planting of Fruit Trees within the 280 foot contour high water mark  Maintenance of fruit tree plantations for 3 years  Handing over of plantations to land owners  The aim is to dissuade the landowners from cutting down the trees and hence protecting the shoreline and the water WATER RESOURCE PROTECTION PROJECTS (V)

 Buffer Zone Protection Project - 2009 Project Highlight: Protection of Tributaries Strategies:  Employ CBOs for planting of trees  Provide tree seedlings to CBOs, grafted mango seedlings and beehives as incentive to sustain CBO activities  Motivate CBOs through provision of tools and protective equipment,  Monitor and rank CBO efforts and cash gifts AWARENESS CREATION  Environmental Education in Schools (JHS/SHS) Project Highlight: Educate pupils and students to serve as agents of awareness creation and attitudinal change. Strategies:  Environmental Education Lectures  Formation of Environmental Clubs  Facilitating of club activities  Provision of minimal financial assisstance FIRE PREVENTION  Fire Prevention and Management Project Highlight: Protection of forest projects from destruction by wild fire. Strategies:  Community fire prevention education programmes  Creation of fire belts around protected areas  Prompt response to fire incidents from community volunteer groups  Motivation of volunteer groups INSTITUTIONAL ARRANGEMENT CONCLUSION The VRA experience has highlighted the need for participation of local people and consultation in designing the water resource management and protection projects The positive and negative impacts of each project could be the subject of discussion at another forum THANK YOU FOR YOUR ATTENTION

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