Rainfall variability, floods and adaptations of the urban poor to flooding in Kumasi, Ghana

Abstract

Flood is a normal ecosystem phenomenon and a natural hydrological feature of most river systems. Climate variability may also bring about precipitation events that cause floods. However, recent floods in most areas may be anthropogenically induced and are on a spatial and temporal increase. This study assessed rainfall variability, flooding and the adaptations of slum residents to floods in Kumasi, Ghana. Rainfall data of Kumasi were collected from the Meteorological Services Department, Accra. Basic descriptive statistics of rainfall data were used to evaluate the rainfall variability. The Mann–Kendall test was used to assess rainfall trends. A survey of residents of flood-prone suburbs was conducted to assess their vulnerability and adaptations to floods. The results show that rainfall in March and November is significantly decreasing. The floods in Kumasi are not due to climate change but bad spatial development practices. Most people will pump out water and build embankments around their houses as adaptations to the floods. Flooding in Kumasi will continue to outwit local government initiatives of storm drain construction because the floods are predominantly due to development of effluent streams and less from flash floods.