Volta Basin Water Charter.

This Water Charter for the Volta River Basin is the international legal instrument for the sustainable management of the Volta River Basin. The Charter shall apply to the Volta River and to all surface and groundwater resources and associated ecosystems found within the geographical limits of its catchment area. Its general purpose is to set out the principles, procedures, rules and modalities for the equitable, coordinated, sustainable use of shared water resources in the Volta Basin as a contribution to the sustainable development of the Volta Basin, in accordance with the mandate of the Volta Basin Authority. The Charter supplements and develops the provisions of the Agreement on the status of the Volta River and the creation of the Volta Basin Authority of 2007 and promotes integrated water resources management. Specifically, the Charter seeks to (a) Prevent and peacefully settle inter-State disputes related to the use of shared water resources; b) Establish a framework for the quantitative and qualitative management of surface and groundwater resources; c) Ensure the preservation and the restoration of the Basin's aquatic ecosystems and their biological diversity, including the prevention of pollution, land degradation and the proliferation of invasive aquatic species, and the sustainable management of fisheries; d) Promote good governance for the integrated management of shared water resources and the environment.
Chapter 3 sets out general obligations of Parties. Chapter 4 is about quantitative and qualitative water resource management (equitable and reasonable utilisation, monitoring). Chapter 5 is about protection and preservation of water quality in the Basin's aquatic and terrestrial ecosystems (pollution control, biological diversity, soil degradation). Other Chapters are: Special protection for transboundary aquifers (6); Climate change (7); Emergency planning and preparedness to ensure the protection of people, property, the environment and water resources (8); Prevention and repair of transboundary damage (9); Navigation (10); Fisheries and aquaculture (11); transboundary transhumance (12); Transboundary environmental assessment (13); Prior notification of planned measures (14); Production, collection and exchange of data and information (15); Common provisions for hydraulic infrastructure (16); Special provisions for common facilities and facilities of common interest (17); Role and responsibility of stakeholders (18); People’s rights (19); Specific implementing organs (20); Instruments and tools for the implementation of the Water Charter (21); Promotional measures (22); Settlement of disputes (23); Miscellaneous (24); Final provisions (25).