THE WHITE VOLTA SUB-BASIN - Sustainable Irrigation Development in the White Volta Sub-Basin - page 19

supervision of GIDA. The Bontanga irrigation scheme is managed by GIDA
while the Vea and Tono irrigation schemes are managed by the Irrigation
Company of Upper Region (ICOUR) (see below).
Ghana Water Company Limited (GWCL): GWCL was previously known as
the Ghana Water and Sewerage Corporation (GWSC), which was established
in 1965 under Act 310. Among the functions of GWSC were the provision,
supply, distribution and conservation of the nation's water resources for
public, domestic and industrial purposes (Opoku-Ankomah et al., 2006).
GWCL was created in 1999, taking over the tasks of the former public
GWSC. GWCL is in charge of urban water supply for towns with
populations above 20.000. In 2004, about 70 urban water supply systems
were under GWCL management. GWCL is mandated to produce potable
water at various headworks/treatment plants, transmit the water to tanks
and reservoirs and further distribute the water to customers through
pipelines (Fuest et al., 2005).
Community Water and Sanitation Agency (CWSA): CWSA is the core
government agency at the regional level concerned with the provision of
potable water to rural communities and small towns. The CWSA was formed
under the National Community Water and Sanitation Program which was
launched in 1994. The National Community Water and Sanitation Program
(NCWSP) is aimed at providing sustainable supply of drinking water and
sanitation, following the principles of community ownership, beneficiary
capital cost contribution, private sector participation and cost-recovery water
tariffs. GWCL has handed over most of the water supply systems (about
208) of the former GWSC to the CWSA/the District Assemblies (DAs)
under the NCWSP.
The District Water and Sanitation Team (DWST) is the major partner of
the CWSA in the District Assemblies. Most of the CWSA projects are donor
sponsored (World Bank, African Development Bank, etc). CWSA facilitates
the provision of boreholes, sanitation facilities and water supply systems to
communities and small towns following a demand-driven approach. The
CWSA selects and supervises consultants for providing consultancy services
for the provision of water supply and sanitation for communities and small
towns. During the provision of such services the DWST guides the process,
monitors the consultants and contractors and reports to CWSA. The DWST
is also responsible for monitoring the use of facilities after the consultants
and contractors have fulfilled their contracts.