Informality and the politics of urban flood management

Abstract

This paper explores reasons for unproductive urban flood management agendas in informal settlements. Does geography of informal settlements inform city-led flood management agendas? And in what ways have residents of informal settlements responded to city-led flood management approaches? The paper argues that the supposed city managers – both state institutions and professional bodies – have consistently acted in their own interest while successfully using ‘blame game’ to alienate their responsibility of successfully implementing flood management agendas in informal settlements. Using Accra (Ghana) as a case study, the study used multiple qualitative methods such as interviews, focus group discussion and secondary data analysis. Findings indicate that, overall, residents of informal settlements are gradually embracing the reality that city managers do not promote their interests in addressing perennial flood events. In turn, the flood management outcomes that policies and plans ostensibly seek to achieve have only been modestly realised. Instead, flood management agendas have had perverse implications for residents of informal settlements. Recommendations to improve the situation are proffered.