Ecological modernization and water resource management: a critique of institutional transitions in Ghana

Ghana is endowed with surface and ground water resources. These resources prior to the colonial era were managed by traditional societies through various conventional methods embedded in their cosmovision. However during the colonial and postcolonial regimes, in response to climate change, economic globalization, and population pressure, there has been a conscious shift from customary water management systems towards paradigms cast in the contemporary mould (legislation, policies, and institutions). These modern approaches have been shown over the years to be insufficient in ensuring water sustainability. This insufficiency manifests itself in the increasing water scarcity through anthropogenic-induced water resources degradation and severe climatic variability. Using content analysis, this paper reviews this transition, first to fully understand the intricacies of the evolution and second to draw lessons for better water resources management in Ghana. This paper contends that although Ghana’s water related institutions, laws, and policies are undergoing significant reforms, implementation and practice remains embedded in weak ecological modernization (EM). Institutionalizing a narrow conception of EM will only perpetuate ‘organized irresponsibility’ and permit the continued production of ecological problems, leaving open the question of whether modernization is compatible with ecological sustainability. Though customary water management approaches are not entirely devoid of limitations, simply branding them as obsolete may obviate an important vehicle for water sustainability. In the spirit paradigmatic complementarity, ecosystem-friendly indigenous approaches must be integrated with contemporary management systems for the long term goal of sustainability.     

Population dynamics of the Brown mussel Perna perna at a Rocky beach near Cape Coast,Ghana

The brown mussel, Perna perna, is an ecologically important species which has a great potential for aquaculture in Ghana. Though it is harvested from the wild for consumption locally, there is no information on its population parameters to guide its management and subsequent culturing. The species inhabiting Iture rocky beach near Cape Coast (Ghana) was therefore investigated to elucidate its growth and other population parameters. Specimens had shell length ranging from 5.00 to 78.0 mm, a modal shell length class of 35.0–39.9 mm, and exhibited negative allometric growth. The asymptotic length (L∞), growth coefficient (K), and growth performance index (Φ') were 80.10 mm, 0.49 per year, and 3.49, respectively. The recruitment pattern showed that P. perna has year-round recruitment with a single peak between April and July. Total mortality (Z) was estimated at 2.79 per year, while natural mortality (M) and fishing mortality (F) were 0.87 and 1.92 per year, respectively. The calculated exploitation level of the population (E = 0.69) suggests possible overfishing of the mussels at Iture rocky beach. These results could serve as baseline information for management of the mussel population in Ghana.