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

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  • Benjamin Campion
  • Jörg-Friedhelm Venzke

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. Copyright Springer Science+Business Media Dordrecht 2013

Suggested Citation

  • Benjamin Campion & Jörg-Friedhelm Venzke, 2013. "Rainfall variability, floods and adaptations of the urban poor to flooding in Kumasi, Ghana," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 65(3), pages 1895-1911, February.
    • Handle: RePEc:spr:nathaz:v:65:y:2013:i:3:p:1895-1911
    DOI: 10.1007/s11069-012-0452-6
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    References listed on IDEAS

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    1. Jenerette, G. Darrel & Marussich, Wendy A. & Newell, Joshua P., 2006. "Linking ecological footprints with ecosystem valuation in the provisioning of urban freshwater," Ecological Economics, Elsevier, vol. 59(1), pages 38-47, August.
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    Cited by:

    1. Philip Antwi-Agyei & Frank Baffour-Ata & Sarah Koomson & Nana Kwame Kyeretwie & Nana Barimah Nti & Afia Oforiwaa Owusu & Fukaiha Abdul Razak, 2023. "Drivers and coping mechanisms for floods: experiences of residents in urban Kumasi, Ghana," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 116(2), pages 2477-2500, March.
    2. Andrew Rumbach & Manish Shirgaokar, 2017. "Predictors of household exposure to monsoon rain hazards in informal settlements," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 85(2), pages 709-728, January.
    3. Ma. Lim & Hector Lim & Mongkut Piantanakulchai & Francis Uy, 2016. "A household-level flood evacuation decision model in Quezon City, Philippines," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 80(3), pages 1539-1561, February.
    4. Yanxu Liu & Shuangshuang Li & Yanglin Wang & Tian Zhang & Jian Peng & Tianyi Li, 2015. "Identification of multiple climatic extremes in metropolis: a comparison of Guangzhou and Shenzhen, China," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 79(2), pages 939-953, November.
    5. Ma. Bernadeth B. Lim & Hector R. Lim & Mongkut Piantanakulchai & Francis Aldrine Uy, 2016. "A household-level flood evacuation decision model in Quezon City, Philippines," Natural Hazards: Journal of the International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, Springer;International Society for the Prevention and Mitigation of Natural Hazards, vol. 80(3), pages 1539-1561, February.

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