Hydrochemistry and multivariate statistical analysis of the quality of water from Lake Bosomtwe for agricultural and human consumption

One of the six major meteoric lakes in the world, Lake Bosomtwe, is of great ecological significance for Ghanaians and the scientific community, most importantly for agricultural and human consumption. Water samples (n = 30) were collected to analyze the hydrogeochemical characteristics and water quality of the lake. Statistical methods including correlation, principal component, cluster analysis, Gibbs ratio, and the Piper–Trilinear diagram were used to analyze parameters. The Water Quality Index revealed that the lake water is not suitable for human consumption because measured pH, temperature, total dissolved solids, color, and bicarbonate exceeded their respective thresholds on all occasions. The calculated sodium absorption ratio (13.7–14.8) and soluble sodium percentage (94.43–95.43%) showed that the lake is not appropriate for irrigation as they exceeded their respective limit of 2 and 60%. The Gibbs ratio revealed that rock–water interaction is the underlying mechanism for water evolution. The Piper–Trilinear diagram revealed that alkalies earth and weak acids dominate the water chemistry of the lake. The dominant cation is sodium (82.22%), while the dominant anion is bicarbonate (79.39%). Five monitoring stations were identified, and the water quality was influenced by diverse anthropogenic and natural sources. The findings will provide a reference for policymakers and decision-makers at Lake Bosomtwe.

Traditional Fisheries Management of Lake Bosomtwe, a Sacred Lake in Ghana: Past, Present and Future

Lake Bosomtwe is an ancient meteoritic impact crater lake, situated near Kumasi in the Ashanti Region of Ghana. The lake is highly prized as a major source of freshwater fish supply, livelihoods, and a resort attraction. The lake is held sacred because of the legend surrounding its discovery. Its predominantly cichlid fishery has been managed for many centuries only by laws that were shrouded in taboos or traditional religious prohibitions. Human activities with the tendency to upset the spirits believed to be dwelling in the lake, such as excessive agitation of the water, noise-making, fishing on a sacred day and the use of conventional nets were prohibited and outlawed. The chiefs, at the instance of the priests of the local shrines, demanded ritual (animal and drink) sacrifices from offenders in cases of non-observance of the taboos to pacify and avert the wrath of the spirits. Although, the laws were essentially traditional religious commandments they were not without connotations for conventional fisheries management. Currently, however, virtually all the traditional fisheries rules and regulations appear to have broken down, as modernity seems to have eroded their relevance, with the result that there is a serious overfishing and depletion of the fish stocks. Nevertheless, recovery of the dwindled fisheries is possible by blending conventional management practices and the traditional laws that are still deemed relevant.

The human impact and the aquatic biodiversity of lake Bosomtwe: rennaisance of the cultural traditions of Abono (Ghana)?

The lake Bosomtwe in the Abono Village in the Ashanti Region of Ghana is in a deplorable state, thereby negatively affecting its rich aquatic biodiversity. The condition is blamed on the negative human impacts on the lake. A phenomenological study of the qualitative approach was undertaken to investigate this phenomenon. The findings revealed that the deteriorating condition of the lake is due to the weak implementation of the cultural traditions of the Abono people. The study proposes the strict observance of the cultural traditions as a complement to the scientific models to avert the want and destruction of the aquatic biodiversity of lake Bosomtwe of Ghana.