Indigenous knowledge in water resource management in the upper Tano river basin, Ghana

Abstract

This study assessed indigenous knowledge in water resource management in the upper Tano River basin of Ghana. Despite the effort of formal water resource management institutions, human activities along the Tano river continued to put the Tano basin in danger hence the need to find other vital means to help in managing the basin.Respondents for the study were chiefs, elders, some selected community members in five riparian communities along the Tano River and the Tano basin secretariat officer among other stakeholders who were involved in the management of the river. Purposive and snow ball sampling techniques were used. Data from the study was analysed manually by transcribing recorded data; organising it into themes where discussions were done under each theme and supporting discussions with pictures, where relevant. The results of the study revealed that, River Tano takes its source from the Tano sacred grove in Tanoboase near Techiman. It was also found out that, deities were mounted along the river in the upper basin and this was manned by sub chiefs and their court of servers to ensure that the use of the river wasregulated. Indigenous knowledge included holding the river as sacred god hence prohibiting people from fishing in it. It was further established that, indigenous institutions faced several challenges such as non-existing bye-laws or legislative instrument to support the enforcement of indigenous knowledge. It is thus recommended that, bye-laws are enacted by the Water Resource Commission basin secretariat together with MMDAs and other formal institutions to assist with the enforcement of indigenous knowledge since it can help significantly in the management of the water resource.