Universities as a direct partner in local development

The University for Development Studies was founded in 1993 by the government of Ghana. Its main purpose is for the university to collaborate with communities to find solutions to the environmental, social and economic problems plaguing the northern regions of Ghana.

It was envisaged that this model of university would provide a conduit for the construction of effective university-community partnerships for formulating and implementing development plans or projects.

Currently, the University for Development Studies (UDS) operates four satellite campuses in the three northern regions of Ghana: Wa Campus (Upper West Region), Navrongo Campus (Upper East Region) and Tamale and Nyankpala (Northern Region).


The Nyankpala campus is located in Nyankpala township, part of the Tolon District, about 15 kilometres south-west of Tamale, the capital city of the Northern Region. Nyankpala is a rural town with a population of about 21,000 people.

Subsistence agriculture in the form of crop farming, such as rice, maize, millet and groundnuts, and livestock production, consisting of cattle, sheep, goats and guinea fowl, are the primary economic activities in the town.

But it faces a very significant challenge from water shortages.

The climate of Nyankapla is tropical, greatly influenced by the south-west monsoons from the South Atlantic and the Northeast Trade Winds (Harmattan) from the Sahara Desert.

The area has a monomodal rainfall pattern, which starts in April-May and ends in October. The average annual rainfall is about 1,157 millimetres. The dry season kicks off around November. The day temperatures range between 33 and 39 degrees Celsius, and at night the temperature drops to an average of 20-26 degrees Celsius.

The current situation

The present water access situation in Nyankpala may be described as a crisis. While the township has a pipe-borne water system, water flow is very irregular. Even UDS relies on water tanker services to meet its water needs. Many members of the university community, and some affluent residents of the township, own poly tanks of varying capacities of between 1,000-5,000 litres.

Nevertheless, the majority of the poor residents are compelled to travel distances carrying containers of assorted sizes on their heads, backs or in hands to an irrigation dam to fetch water for daily consumption. The water situation makes it almost impossible for the majority of the town's residents to adopt flush toilet technology. Consequently, open defecation, locally referred to as ‘free range’, is not uncommon.

It is also cost inefficient for any water-based processing factories to be built in that township. The incidence of contaminated water with its health consequences of cholera, typhoid and dysentery is commonplace in the township. In short, the water situation in the township has significantly increased the health burden of the poor.

Proposed water project

A water project has been proposed which is designed to alleviate the water shortages in Nyankpala township, improve water accessibility and general sanitation. As such, the project involves collaboration between the district authorities and local experts at UDS.

The water situation in the Nyankpala township is dissimilar from others in Ghana and in Africa. Unlike others without access to bodies of water, Nyankpala has been fortunate enough to get irrigation dams such as Golinga, which is 5 kms away, and Botanga, about 16 kms from the township.

The solutions to the water problems are twofold:

• • To rebuild and expand the old water pipe-borne system to make water readily available in people's homes; and
  
  
• • To have a reliable, affordable technology and power system to treat the water to make it drinkable.

The main components of the project involve building a water treatment station around the Golinga dam, drawing water from the dam, treating it, storing it in a reservoir and distributing it to Nyankpala township at an affordable cost.

The UDS will not be responsible for the day-to-day technical and administrative operations of the pipe supply system when it starts running in about 2021. An appropriate organisation will be created for that purpose, with the UDS committee of experts monitoring and evaluating the economic and social impact of the project.

Since it is a pro-poor project, affordability and innovation are critical issues for the committee.

Anticipated benefits

It is clear that when the project moves off the drawing board it will significantly alleviate the health burden of the vast majority of the town's population. It could also be extended for the benefit of other communities within the Tolon District. Its success could also serve as a viable model for adoption or adaptation by other rural towns in Ghana and in other African countries.

Finally, the water project has the potential to attract water-based processing industries such as food and oils. With a reliable pipe-borne water supply, such a water-based processing industry could contribute towards a reduction of unemployment and poverty in the township.

A recent narrative by Eric Fredua-Kwarteng has challenged African universities to define and embrace a new role as development partners to collaborate with local, regional and central governments to find solutions to environmental, social and economic problems.

The proposed water project in the Nyankpala township is a strong example of what African universities could do to contribute directly to African development and improve the poor living conditions of their fellow citizens.

Vincent K Avornyo is a senior lecturer in agronomy and pedology at the University for Development Studies, Ghana. Dr Eric Fredua-Kwarteng is a policy consultant in Canada.