THE WHITE VOLTA SUB-BASIN - Sustainable Irrigation Development in the White Volta Sub-Basin - page 40

2.6 C ONCLUSION
From the above description of the study area it can be concluded that the
Volta basin has a complex formal structure that largely exists on paper only.
This ranges from the transboundary level to the National and sub-basin
level. Meanwhile there are institutional gaps for water resources management
in the Oti, Black and Lower Volta sub-basins. Even though water resources
management in the White Volta sub-basin is advanced compared to the
other sub-basins there still remains institutional challenges which are yet to
be addressed in the White Volta sub-basin. Also some interesting trends
exist which pose challenges to water management. The trends include the
dichotomy between state institutions and customary practices, the lack of
adequate trained professionals in the water sector to make the institutions
work, and the integration of the numerous stakeholders in the water sector at
various levels.
The current water governance structures in the study area are unable to
provide effective management as the rate of water resources development in
the study area increases. More professionals need to be trained for the
effective implementation of Integrated Water Resources Management in the
basin.