An economic assessment of the impact of information and communications technology (ICT) on performance indicators of water resource management in West Africa: A suggested strategy for avoiding the eminent international water wars

Using data from 16 West African countries, this paper examines the links between Per Capita Income, Trade and Financial indicators, Education and Freedom indicators. Others are internet users, broadband and mobile cell phone subscribers. Meanwhile fresh water supply (which is assumed as a bench mark public sector-led water resource management performance indicators) and access to safe drinking water (a bench mark private sector-led water resource management performance indicators) represents indicators of water resources management. The results show that income, information and communications technology (ICT) and government trade policies influence the efficient management of cross-country water resource. Freedom indicators strongly affect water resource management performance indicators (WRMPI). Internet Users, Broadband Subscribers, and Mobile cell phones subscribers have a positive association with WRMPI. However, contrary to wide spread expectations, education does not influence WRMPI. In areas where water resource management performance indicators of safe drinking water exhibited strong correlation are: Secondary school enrollment rate (0.57), fresh water supply with consumer price inflation (0.78) and a fair correlation of safe drinking water with corruption index.   Key words: Information and communications technology (ICT), resource management, safe drinking water.