Exposures to multiple biophysical stressors and response capacities of riparian communities in Ghana

Abstract

This article assesses multiple biophysical stressors in riparian communities along River Offin basin in Ghana. The extent of land cover change and surface water contamination; the relative contributions of anthropogenic activities to pollution of the River; gendered determinants of exposure and response capacities were assessed. Drawing on extensive fieldwork, not only does the results show widespread forest cover change, the concentration of contaminants in the water also exceeded acceptable standards. Further, poor sanitation stood out as another critical challenge. For 64% of households, open defecation was the only choice while 62% disposed solid waste indiscriminately within the River basin. Insightfully, the degree of exposure to these multiple biophysical stressors and response capacity were gendered. Based on the empirical evidence, the article argues that building the resilience of riparian communities demands a multi-faceted approach that goes beyond proper land use planning to include other issues like vulnerability, social exclusion and power relations.