Experts in Ghana’s water sector have thrown their weight behind moves to transfer treated water from downstream Volta River at Sogakope to Lome, Togo, indicating that it would benefit the two countries. According to them, though Ghana owns the infrastructure, the water basin is international because it runs through several countries such as Burkina Faso, Togo, Benin, Mali and Cote d’Ivoire “so all of them have rights to use it”. Nii Boye Ayebotele, Chair of Global Water Partnership, Ghana, disclosed this while answering questions from journalists at a five-day capacity building programme for media practitioners from some selected West African countries, on the challenges of developing water infrastructure in the sub-region. “Though the decision to supply Togo with water is still at a consideration stage, the idea is good since it will not be only Togo that will benefit as the Ghanaian villages along the way will all gain from the project,” said Nii Ayebotele. Another expert, Dr. Philip Gua-Boakye of the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR), who concurred with Nii Boye Ayebotele, noted that the Sogakope-Lome Water Project is being considered within the framework of the international co-operation as advocated by the United Nations (UN). The UN believes that such projects nurture the opportunities of trans-boundary water management which can help build mutual respect, understanding and trust among nations as well as promote peace, security and sustainable economic growth. “The summit of the head of states and the council of Ministers in charge of the water sector of the countries made this agreement,” said Dr Gua-Boakye. According to him, the project is laudable since it was in line with an institutional arrangement aimed at ensuring co-operation in the use of shared water resources of the Volta Basin for the equitable benefit of all countries concerned. “15 billion cubic meters of Ghana’s water annually comes from outside the country,” he said. He revealed that River Oti, which has its source in Togo, supplied 40 per cent of the water that flows into the Akosombo Dam. “So if they decide to build their own dam on it, who will lose?” he asked. Aside water supply, he cataloged other benefits including flood control and industrial development. As part of the implementation of the project, Ghana Water Company (GWC) and Societe Togolaise Des Eaux, which is the Togo Water Company, have signed an agreement to construct and operate a water treatment plant and pipeline. Though Ghana would make no financial commitment to the project, which is being supported by the World Bank and other agencies, it is expected to ensure efficient basin management and use of water resources in the West African sub-region. In 2002, the United States Trade Development Agency released 400,000 dollars to the Government of Ghana for feasibility studies, while Lemna International, the consultants who undertook the studies, provided additional funding of 135,000 dollars for the project. Apart from the financial gains to Ghana, 26 communities in the country would be supplied with 15,000 cubic metres of drinking water daily for free. Some of the communities along the proposed pipeline include Aflao, Kiklor, Agbakope, Avoeme, Ehie, Anyako, Avoeme, Agborzume, and Akatsi-Abor Sogakope. Source: Emelia Ennin Abbey/Business Guide