Abstract

Flooding can pose substantial social and welfare problems that may continue over extended periods of time that include economic stress associated with re-building that arise as people try to recover their lives, property and relationships. This study is focused on identifying community coping strategies in relation to flood and examine the factors influencing the selection of coping strategies as well as the local government policies in relation to flood disaster management. The target population for the study is households affected by flood, who were accidentally selected at household levels. One hundred (100) respondents chosen were interviewed person to person with the use of both structured and semi- structured guides. The study indicated that the largest floods in the area in recent years occurred in 2007, 2010, 2012 and 2017. The causes were as a result of heavy rains and when neighbouring Burkina Faso opened a flood gate of the Bagre dam, releasing an enormous amount of water into the White Volta River that flowed into Ghana. During flooding, crops are submerged or washed off and animals drowned; animals like sheep, goats and cattle go days without food and often suffer foot and mouth diseases and die as a result. To cope with the flooding, the victims borrow money and food in order to survive through the flood season and some households traded their assets for money and food, taking children out of school to work, while some sent family members out to live with friends and relatives elsewhere. Pastoral farming has been adopted and the community members also engaged in activities such as sale of firewood or charcoal, income from petty trading usually by women, some travel to work mostly in southern Ghana and send food items home, thatch weaving for local roofing and twine weaving to make income. There should be policies that target the marginalised in society, such as women, children, the elderly, the physically challenged persons and the poor otherwise these groups will remain most vulnerable. Self-help measures to reduce damage to property and stress caused by flooding should also be encouraged.

Highlights

  • Flooding is the most frequent type of major disasters

  • Since floods are a frequent feature in Ghana, local coping strategies are required to reduce the shocks. It is against this background that this study examines the impact of floods and coping strategies adopted by farmers in some communities in the Builsa district

  • The age of respondent is used in this research with the pre-assumption that the age of the respondents has a relationship by means of the way they perceive flood

Read more

Summary

Introduction

The impacts of climate change are likely to increase the occurrence of flooding that happens to be the most frequent type of major disaster a days [1]. One could predict that several forms of floods and other natural disasters would be prominent in the near future; this would largely be due to increasing concentration leading to flash floods in many areas of Africa including Ghana [11]. The Western Region in July 2017, flood waters from River Tano and other tributaries displaced over 1,000 residents of Samreboi, Wassa Dunkwa, Aboi Nkwanta Samreboi communities within the Wassa Amenfi West District. In the route of the flood plains, agricultural activities can lead to degradation of environment, loss of vegetation cover results in erosion and siltation of rivers causing wellknown harm to lives and property. It is against this background that this study examines the impact of floods and coping strategies adopted by farmers in some communities in the Builsa district

Study Area
Research Design and Methodology
Demographic and Socio-economic Characteristics
Marital Status
Flood History and People’s Perception of Possible Causes of Floods
Why People Are Still Living in These Areas
Effects of Flood on Household Livelihood
Effect of Flood on Infrastructure
Relief Services
Coping Strategies
Factors Influencing the Choice of Coping Strategies
4.10. Institutional Arrangements and Responses to Flooding
Conclusion and the Way
Full Text
Published version (Free)

Talk to us

Join us for a 30 min session where you can share your feedback and ask us any queries you have

Schedule a call