Accra, Nov. 22, GNA - Water Resources Commission (WRC) on Thursday said water drillers awarded contracts to undertake any drilling without appropriate licence was an offence punishable by law. It therefore, asked the relevant institutions and individuals to note that with effect from January 2008, a driller's licence should be obtained before awarding contracts for water prospecting and drilling to any drilling company.

The institutions include government agencies, corporate organisations, metropolitan, municipal and district assemblies and non-governmental organisations (NGOs). A statement issued by WRC in Accra and signed by Mrs Adwoa Munka Dako, Public Relations Officer was to inform companies and consultants that a Drilling Licence and Groundwater Development Regulations, LI 1827, 2006 had been passed by Parliament and would soon be in force. It said the LI aimed at regulating in an environmentally sustainable manner the development of Ghana's groundwater resources as well as providing licence to companies that prospect and drill water wells and boreholes.

The LI would in addition, gather information on groundwater resources availability in Ghana and its exploitation for effective planning of groundwater development activities.

It is made up of 24 regulations covering the administrative process for applying and renewing of the licence as well as notifying the WRC of any well drilling activity.

The regulations also comprise procedures to be followed by licence holders and water well drillers in the development and construction of wells, in an environmentally friendly manner, and the proper abandonment or rehabilitation of defective wells. It also provides interpretation of the LI and offences on non-compliance.

The LI provides unhindered access of WRC officials to sites of wells to monitor and inspect groundwater development and use.