OceanExpert ID : 81777
Mr. Godwin ABAKARI
Officer, Water Management/Basin Officer
Water Management Directorate/Lower Volta Basin Office
PO Box CT 5630 , No 4 Leshie Crescent, Labone
Accra
Ghana
Nationality
Ghana
Email(s)
Please login to see the email.
Telephone
+233544152787/+233207821907
ORCID :
https://orcid.org/0000-0002-7960-7379
ResearcherID :
AAM-7932-2021
MSc.
Research
Data Management
Natural Resource Management
Technical Advice & Consulting
Biological Oceanography, Marine Ecology
eDNA
Fisheries, Aquaculture
Limnology
Marine Biotechnology, Marine Products
Pollution
Research Support Services
As a Water Management Officer/Basin Officer for the Lower Volta Basin Office of the Water Resources Commission, the activities I undertake include but are not limited to:
Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM): Lead the implementation of IWRM strategies within the Lower Volta Basin, ensuring water use planning and allocation aligns with national water policy objectives.
Ecological and Hotspot Monitoring: Conduct assessments of freshwater and coastal ecosystems, identifying ecological hotspots and emerging threats such as biodiversity loss, invasive species, and pollution. This highlights the need for advanced tools such as eDNA-based monitoring for more accurate biodiversity assessments.
Water Quality and Pollution Research: Investigate pollution sources (domestic, agricultural, industrial) and their impacts on aquatic health, supporting evidence-based mitigation strategies. The integration of eDNA techniques would strengthen ongoing water quality surveillance.
Hydrological Monitoring: Monitor river flow, water abstraction, and groundwater levels to inform allocation and planning. Current reliance on conventional methods demonstrates the necessity of advanced modelling tools like HEC-HMS to simulate rainfall-runoff processes and improve flood forecasting.
Flood and Climate Risk Mitigation: Support disaster risk reduction initiatives through hydrological data analysis and climate variability assessments. Capacity building in hydrological modeling would enhance the ability to evaluate multiple scenarios for climate adaptation.
Regulation and Compliance: Oversee the issuance and monitoring of water use permits, ensuring compliance with regulations and promoting sustainable use of resources.
Stakeholder Engagement: Facilitate collaboration with communities, industries, and local authorities to strengthen water governance, resolve conflicts, and promote sustainable practices.
Research and Capacity Development: Conduct applied research and actively engage in knowledge-sharing activities, while seeking further capacity building in emerging water management tools (HEC-HMS, eDNA) to strengthen institutional capacity and contribute to national and regional water policy goals.
Gulf of Guinea
South Atlantic Ocean
Professional Skills
- Integrated Water Resources Management (IWRM): Experienced in basin-scale planning, policy implementation, and water allocation.
- Hydrological Monitoring & Risk Assessment: Skilled in surface and groundwater monitoring, flood risk assessment, and climate variability analysis.
- Water Quality & Pollution Research: Strong background in assessing pollution sources, ecological health, and aquatic ecosystem threats.
- Environmental Monitoring: Proficient in ecological and hotspot monitoring across freshwater and coastal systems; keen interest in advanced tools such as hydrological modelling (HEC-HMS) and environmental DNA (eDNA).
- Regulation & Compliance: Competent in water use permitting, enforcement, and stakeholder engagement to promote sustainable practices.
- Research & Capacity Building: Experienced in applied research, knowledge sharing, and institutional strengthening for sustainable water management.
- Stakeholder Collaboration: Adept at engaging with communities, industries, and governmental agencies to address water-related challenges and conflicts.
English
I am a dedicated water resources professional with a strong commitment to advancing sustainable water management in Ghana and beyond. My experience as Basin Officer for the Lower Volta has provided me with practical expertise in hydrological monitoring, flood risk mitigation, pollution research, and ecological assessments. I am proactive in seeking new knowledge and recently enhanced my technical capacity through specialized training, including the Isotopes in Environmental Studies course. I am eager to further strengthen my skills in advanced hydrological modeling and environmental DNA (eDNA) applications to contribute more effectively to evidence-based policy and ecosystem resilience.