Battling with urban floods: Household experience, coping and adaptation strategies in Ghana

Abstract

Empirical works have shown rising urban floods in Ghana and the associated household vulnerabilities. However, the flood response mechanisms by households remain inadequately understood. This paper, therefore, analyses the dynamics of urban floods and the response mechanisms of flood-prone community-dwelling households in Greater Kumasi, Ghana using a concurrent triangulation mixed method design. The quantitative data were analysed using descriptive statistical tools in IBM SPSS (Version 21) while the qualitative data were analysed using NVivo 12 analytical software. The results showed that households employed different flood coping strategies including bailing out of the water, placing valuable items above the ground level, and seeking support from neighbours. Adaptation took the form of massive use of concrete flood defence walls and elevated entrances, the use of sandbags as embarkments, and reinforced building foundations with concrete work. The uncoordinated nature of these individual strategies coupled with overdependence on the structural defence mechanisms made these response mechanisms less effective. For effective flood control, a site-specific mix of structural and non-structural flood control mechanisms is recommended. Crucially, it demands strict enforcement of land use regulations, land use, and development control, and sustained community sensitisation on the risks of non-adherence to land use regulations.