The impact of urbanization and development on surface waters in Ghana - Case studies

Accelerated urbanization and industrial growth without the provision of adequate infrastructure for waste management in the years after the introduction of the Economic Recovery Programme in 1983 have led to the pollution of surface water sources in the urban settlements of Ghana. Most of the surface waters have high biochemical oxygen demand and low dissolved oxygen levels. In the recent past, however, a National Environmental Action Plan has been formulated for pollution control. Funding has also been obtained to improve sanitation, storm drainage and solid waste management in the major cities of the country. The collection of baseline data on the different components of the environment has also been intensified to enable the setting of environmental standards to control and regulate industrial emissions throughout the country.