PhD Thesis Emmanuel Obeng Bekoe - Cranfield University

Emmanuel Obeng Bekoe Phd Thesis Chapter 1 Background and Problem
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1.2 Aims and Objective of Study
The aim of the thesis is to assess the suitability of using a hydrological model to
predict the impact of future catchment changes on surface water resources as a
basis for the sustainable watershed management strategy of tropical West
African catchments: an example for Nsawam and Manhia catchments in the
data-poor Densu Basin in Ghana.
To accomplish this aim, the research was undertaken with the following
objectives:
1. Selection of an appropriate hydrological model for use within a data poor
basin in Tropical West Africa to predict the impact of future catchment
changes on water resources.
2. Assess model sensitivity to key hydrometric and hydrologic parameters
to inform model understanding and to provide guidance for prioritizing
future data collection to support modelling activities.
3. Simulate the hydrology of the basin, splitting the available
hydrometeorological data for calibration and validation purposes.
4. Evaluate the model performance by taking land use changes in the
catchment into consideration. This would be done to assess model
performance after nearly twenty years of non-flow data for future
forecasting.
5. Simulate the impacts of scenarios of future change i.e. urbanization,
landuse/social change, abstraction, demand/supply etc. on the water
resources of the basin. This would be done to ascertain the influence of
these factors on the basin which will enhance the understanding of the
future behaviour of the basin and assist with better formulation of policies
to mitigate any potential water resources management problems.
6. Give recommendations based on the study to the Densu River Basin
Management Board on how the results could be integrated into
sustainable catchment management strategies of the basin and other
West African basins for future guidance.