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2
State two importance of Rivers to the economic
development of Ghana.

river is a large natural flow of water. On the other hand, a lake is a large area of water surrounded by land. In Ghana, there are different lakes and rivers of which all serve one purpose or the other. We have rivers like The Volta River, Bia, Tano, Ankobra and Pra, Ochi-Nawuka, Ochi Amissah, Ayensu, Densu and Tordzie rivers, etc. It must be emphasized that these water resources play a very significant role in the economy of the Ghana. So therefore, it is very needful for us to know what Ghana really gain from these rivers and how it continues in a long run to boost the Gross Domestic Product (GDP) of Ghana. Some of these of importance can be seen in the areas of the transportation of goods and passengers, Source of food and its aid in agricultural production through its irrigation abilities, Source of minerals, Source of employment, ability to boost the revenue of the government, generation of foreign exchange ear, and hydro-electric power generation. Firstly, the rivers and lakes in Ghana are a huge resource for food (which mostly comes in fishes) and facilitators of the agricultural sector also. About 8,000 tons of fishes are caught every year inland which helps decrease the import of fish for consumption. There are about 18 species of fish in the Densu including the Weija reservoir with Tilapia and mud fish being the most commonly fished species. The rivers and lakes inland are the major source of fish during closed fishing seasons at the coast. These fishes can also be exported outside the country which generates income for the nation and helps develop the economy. These water bodies also serves irrigation purposes to farmers and other agricultural producers. There will be no need for the usage of national resources to create irrigation dams when there are natural water bodies which can serve such a purpose. This helps in saving the country some money for other relevant projects. As these water bodies provide irrigation for agricultural producers, definitely it will increase crop yield and agricultural production even during dry seasons, and this will decrease the import of crops and other foodstuffs during these periods. And as it decreases imports, inflation will be checked and the currency will appreciate in value. Some basins of rivers like Pra contains most of the large cocoa growing areas in the Eastern, Ashanti and Central regions. Food cropping is more and more commercialized especially around the medium and large settlement and along the major river axes.