water sources, infrastructure, space and the dynamics of ...

Matthew Biniyam KursahTRITA LWR Master ThesisWater management: traditional value system and the modern positivismLike most parts in Ghana during the period of low population growthand localisation of water resources as well as market, the intergenerationalequity was and could be safeguarded in Saboba district. Thiswas sustained by the traditional management practices of the use ofwater resources. Quite often, the socio-cultural ideologies andphilosophies mostly inclined on cultures were been used for theprotection of water which was considered sacred in the district. Theseindigenous strategies are usually predicated on customs and traditionsthat have strong totemic significance, as they were handed-down fromancestral lineages (Benneh et al, 1998 and Toulmin et al, 2002). It isinteresting to note that those norms were more respected and compliedwith in the communities within the district due largely to theirapprehensive consequences. Some management strategies included theuse of moral laws and taboos, restrictions, adherence to religious beliefsand sometimes outright ban-on-use of certain sections/whole of waterbody when its vulnerability to contamination seems imminent. Somewater and other natural resources were been deified. Thus, like the biblicalprohibitions thy shall not or taboos, were enshrined in the value systemsto control the use of environment that will have health repercussions onpeople. Within the district for example, one was forbidden to send acooking pot (usually dirty) to riverside or cut vegetation along rivervalleys. The rationale was to reduce water pollution and siltation as aresult of downstream erosion of river/stream courses, respectively.Offenders were seen as invoking the spirits of limoawaal (river-gods)which will punish them accordingly, hence giving credence to the view ofNana Ofori Atta II.However, the incorporation of the district, like any part in Ghana, intothe modern system, decentralisation policy, rapid population growth,changes in socio-economic conditions and lifestyle have led to therelegation of these traditional management practices of the use of water.Thus, the use of water resources in the district is now largely governedby the modern positivist view of the relationship between society andnature. The profit motive rather than the previous value systemsregulating water and environment control this current perspective view.The goal of positivism is to achieve objectivity in problem solving.Therefore, issues relating to the subjective world of value systems (suchas thy shall not or taboos) are now regarded as unscientific and hence notworth exploring (Kendie, 1997). In most cases these are seen as obstaclesto be eliminated (Goulet, 1986). The ordinary person can now use waterresources and vegetation along it without any control by eithertraditional authority or District Assembly. As one respondent fromBordagbalm echoed; “dandana aabiim aah ki pak iiyaajakaar” (the youth oftoday don’t longer respect ancestral laws).Currently, management and protection of water resources is one of theleast concerns in the district. Water is left to suffer the Hardin’s Tragedy ofthe Common syndrome, as a woman respondent stated if clothes are dirty, weuse water to wash it. So, Karaachi (intellectual) what can be used to wash water too?(my translation). Illiteracy and total lack of health concerns play a criticalrole in this case. As a result, the traditional norms and value systemsgoverning the relationship between nature and society have beenreplaced in the district by the modern positivist view. However, modernpositivism has not been able to adopt adequate practices and methods tosustain water resources. The effect of this changing perception onenvironment, and specifically water use, has contributed to a20