The erratic rainfall patterns caused by the worsening climate change has affected water resources and crop production across the country.

To fight this menace, the Ghana National Water Policy (NWP) was launched in 2007 following a broad-base consultation with stakeholders, to provide a framework for a sustainable development of Ghana's water resources.

However, the policy is yet to achieve its full potential as possible review of challenges found to impede the smooth operation of the policy is yet to be done.

A grace period of five years to assess the impact of the policy has elapsed but there is an imminent review to take place soon.

Addressing a political cafe organized by the Development Institute (DI) to discuss water resources management and climate change activities and its effects on crop production, November 28 in Accra, Deputy Director at the Water Directorate of the ministry of water resources, works and housing, Mr. Harold Clottey, noted that it is about time a review is conducted on the NWP launched some six years ago.

"In a very near future, a review of the water policy would be done", Mr. Clottey noted.

According to him, government had made provision for the policy in the 2014 budget, which is currently being debated in Parliament, hoping that funds will be made available to undertake review of challenges experienced in the policy.

Mr. Clottey further indicated that the review process will need adequate consultations with all stakeholders in the water management and usage sectors to enable the country have a sustainable water policy for its people.

Expatiating on the NWP, the deputy director noted that the policy that provided a framework for sustainable water resource management also took into account the Growth and Poverty Reduction Strategy (GPRS II), which is informed by the Millennium Development  Goals (MDGs).

Also underlining the policy are the New Partnership for African Development (NEPAD) and obligations set out in the 1992 Constitution.

For him, the guiding principle establishing the policy includes the fundamental  right of all people to safe and adequate water to meet basic human needs.

The policy is also premised on meeting the social needs for water as priority, recognizing water as a finite and vulnerable resource, improving equity and gender sensitivity among others, Mr. Clottey intimated.

 The programme brought together stakeholders in the water sector  and its development partners to discuss the practical up-scaling of the ADAPTS projects in Ghana and create a platform to solicit further support for sustainable Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM) and Climate Change activities at the local level.

DI is a non-governmental organization, focusing on sustainable development and conservation of high biodiversity areas through local capacity building on environmental and human security.

The ADAPTS project was one of DI's project implemented along the Dayi river basin in the Volta region.

The project supported successful farmer initiatives in sustainable small-scale irrigated agriculture to cope with the decrease in the dependence of rainfall and work towards sustaining and managing the water in the Dayi river basin.

The on-going project, according to  DI is in collaboration with their Dutch partners, Vrije Universiteit, Both ENDS and Acacia water, with the Water Resources Commission (WRC) being the local partner.