COMPARATIVE ANALYSIS OF WATER RESOURCE MANAGEMENT PRACTICES AND SOCIO-ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT: A STUDY OF KASSENA- NANKANA EAST MUNICIPALITY AND BONGO DISTRICT

Water resources management (WRM) is key to socio-economic development. This study examined WRM practices and how it effects socio-economic development, using the Kassena-Nankana East Municipality and the Bongo District in the Upper East Region as the study areas. In pursuance of this, both qualitative and quantitative methods were adopted. Structured questionnaires administration, key informant interviews, observations and focus group discussions were the data collection techniques employed. Data obtained were analyzed using inferential statistics so as to explain the effectiveness and efficiency of WRM practices and socio-economic development. The findings reveal that, by comparison, both the KNEM and the BD use similar strategies (practices) for managing water resources such as cover cropping, gathering of stones, tree planting, turf and landscape care and None use of chemicals for fishing. However, the difference lies in the degree to which they use these strategies.The finding that most of the respodents have reasonable knowledge on water resource regulation in the study areas, they do not comply with the laws and regulations governing water resources management The results of a cost-benefit analysis conducted for the study point out that achieving water resource management for both the Kassena-Nankana East Municipality and the Bongo District would bring socio-economic development to the two areas. The study concludes that water resources management practices have positive influence on socio-economic development as increase income, food security, and better standard of living are some of the positives gains when water resources are manage effectively and efficiently. The study suggests that if efforts are not made to sensitize, train and empower community members to tackle water resources management as every household concern to address water resources management problems they may collapse with attended overwhelming impacts on socio-economic development.