The Water Resources Commission (WRC), through the Licensing and Compliance Directorate and the Water Management Directorate, successfully held a virtual training forum on August 5, 2025, to build the capacity of stakeholders in the business of borehole drilling and groundwater development.
The forum was part of the Commission’s scheduled activities for 2025, and it was aimed at enhancing awareness and compliance among drillers and other stakeholders in the groundwater sector.
The forum was attended by 52 participants. The participants were representatives of companies involved in borehole drilling, hydrogeologists, and consultants in the water sector. The forum was very interactive, providing legal and technical guidance on groundwater development, the process for obtaining drilling licenses, and key compliance requirements.
Key areas covered during the forum included:
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Best practices in groundwater development
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An exposé on the drilling license and groundwater development regulations
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Challenges in the implementation of the regulations
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Strategies to enhance compliance
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Considerations in data collection for water management
In a presentation on “Reporting Requirements in Groundwater Development,” officials of the Commission outlined the importance of collecting and submitting accurate well records. Participants were educated on the technical and legal significance of documenting every stage of the drilling process. Some of the stages mentioned included borehole naming, geographical location of the borehole, drilling method used, and data on the geological formation of the borehole.
During the forum, Dr. Bernadette A. Adjei, Director of Licensing and Compliance at WRC, emphasized the need for both drilling rig owners and borehole agents to register with the Commission to legally and properly undertake borehole drilling. She reiterated WRC’s collaboration with drilling associations to educate them and regulate their operations. The participants also proposed community sensitization to ensure the public only engages licensed operators.
Dr. Adjei also highlighted the importance of water quality testing of boreholes and assured participants that the Commission is committed to ensuring its license fees do not hinder legitimate businesses from operating in the sector.
“We are all in the water business,” Dr. Adjei said. “You need guidance to do the right thing, and the Commission needs accurate data to manage groundwater resources responsibly.”
She also reaffirmed WRC’s commitment to a timely and efficient licensing process, provided all submitted documents are accurate and complete.
The forum concluded with a strong message encouraging all stakeholders to adopt responsible drilling practices that protect and sustain Ghana’s groundwater resources.
