Rising incidence of urban floods: understanding the causes for flood risk reduction in Kumasi, Ghana

Abstract

Urban areas in Ghana have experienced worsening floods in terms of scale and number of affected people. In many instances, attribution has been made to one dominant factor as the cause of the rising flood incidence. The nature of the problem however suggests a complex interplay of factors at work but which have received limited research attention. Drawing on climatic data, household and key informant interviews, as well as direct observations, the paper examined the factors that underlie the rising incidence of floods in Kumasi. From the lens of urban political ecology, findings from the study suggest that multiplicity of factors rooted in weak institutional and legal frameworks underlie the worsening flood situation in the city. Key among these are rapid and unplanned urban growth, poor waste management culture and institutional ineptitude. Effective land-use planning and control through smart growth policies, alongside efficient waste management culture, are critical in stemming the problems of floods but the effectiveness of these measures depend on adequate resourcing of the relevant institutions and enforcement of land use regulations.