Sustaining Indigenous Water Governance Systems in Ayimaye and Lungni, Northern Ghana, through Hybrid Models

Effective water governance in sub-Saharan Africa requires culturally grounded and contextually responsive approaches to local realities. This study employs a convergent mixed-methods design, combining structured surveys (n = 411), key informant interviews, and thematic analysis to examine the socio-cultural, ecological, and institutional dimensions of water governance in the indigenous communities of Ayimaye and Lungni in Northern Ghana. The findings reveal a statistically significant association between community location and primary water source use (χ² = 146.22, p < 0.0001), with Ayimaye relying predominantly on rivers and Lungni on boreholes. Despite differing ecological conditions, both communities emphasised collective responsibility for water governance and widely supported the integration of traditional and modern systems as complementary for sustainability. Significant inter-community differences (p < 0.01) were observed regarding perceptions of gender participation, leadership, and cultural norms in governance. Structural challenges, including limited institutional support, technological constraints, and seasonal variability, were common across communities. This study underscores the relevance of traditional ecological knowledge in shaping modern water governance and highlights the potential of hybrid models that bridge indigenous stewardship with formal frameworks. Findings offer actionable insights for policymakers and practitioners seeking to foster inclusive, resilient, and culturally legitimate water governance in Ghana and similar settings. Unlike earlier Ghana-based studies, which often treated indigenous systems and formal water governance separately, this study uniquely demonstrates how hybrid governance models can effectively integrate traditional ecological knowledge with modern frameworks to address water challenges in culturally grounded and contextually responsive ways.