THE WHITE VOLTA SUB-BASIN - Sustainable Irrigation Development in the White Volta Sub-Basin - page 22

country. It is a semi-autonomous organisation and depends largely on the
sale of data for research activities and others.
Research Institutions: There are several research institutions which have
direct stake in the water resources of the Volta Basin. In Ghana the main
research institute is the Council for Scientific and Industrial Research (CSIR)
which operates under the Ministry of Environment, Science and Technology.
It has several research institutes. The institutes related directly to water
resources of the Volta Basin are the Water Research Institute (WRI) and the
Savannah Agricultural Research Institute (SARI).
The Water Research Institute conducts research into both groundwater and
surface water resources (quality and quantity) and their related resources
including their sustainable management. SARI is located in the Volta Basin
and conducts research into rainfed and irrigated agriculture in the savannah
areas of Ghana. SARI researches innovations for harvesting water, and
improvement in agricultural productivity.
Local Actors
Traditional Authorities: In Ghana a mixture of customary law and modern
law coexists creating a mixed governance system (legal pluralism) which
affects water resources management. Traditional institutions are recognised
in Ghana's constitution and are represented by the House of Chiefs at the
National and Regional levels. Even though they are not represented at the
district level, they play major roles in decision making at their traditional
level.
Birner et al. (2005) found that according to the customs of the people in the
Upper East Region, chiefs are responsible for the rivers and streams that
flow through their traditional areas. Traditional authorities are major
stakeholders in water resources management in the sub-basin. In the Upper
East Region the tendanas or earth priests are responsible for the earth shrine
and for the distribution of agricultural land. They play major roles in
allocating land for irrigation development in the region. The tendanas are
the spiritual heads of the region.
Community Water User and Management Organizations: There are three
main organizations identified in Ghana that are responsible for water
management at the community level. The Water User Associations (WUAs)
are responsible for small reservoirs (irrigation, livestock and fishing) but not
for all irrigation technologies in the community. The Water and Sanitation
Committees (WATSAN) are responsible for drinking water supply from
boreholes and Water Boards in the case of small town water supply systems.