Understanding Flood Risk in Ghana Highlighted at BENCHH 2024

The Built Environment National Conference on Housing and Hydrology (BENCHH) is an annual conference organized by the Ministry of Works and Housing. It provides a comprehensive platform to solicit views from the public and key stakeholders in the built environment on how to address Ghana’s flooding and housing challenges.

At the Built Environment National Conference on Housing and Hydrology (BENCHH) 2024, Prof. Kwaku Amaning Adjei from the Department of Civil Engineering at Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) delivered a compelling presentation on understanding flood risk in Ghana. His presentation focused on the causes, consequences, and management strategies for flood risk in the country.

Prof. Kwaku Amaning Adjei identified climate change as a significant cause of flooding. Rising temperatures and more intense rainfalls have altered the intensity-duration-frequency curves used in designing storm drains. The outdated curves, from the 1970s, no longer match current rainfall patterns, leading to an increased frequency of floods.

He stated that urbanization has also exacerbated the problem. Increased impermeable surfaces and inadequate drainage systems mean that more water flows rapidly into drains, which are often overwhelmed. Additionally, deforestation has reduced the land’s natural absorption capacity, leading to quicker and higher water runoff.

In the short term, Prof. Kwaku Amaning Adjei emphasized the need to improve drainage systems and ensure they are free of waste. Effective emergency response plans are also crucial.

For the long term, sustainable urban planning is essential. This includes preventing the complete paving over of properties and ensuring new developments manage stormwater effectively. Implementing climate adaptation strategies is also necessary, such as changing building designs to withstand flooding and using flood risk maps to guide construction.

Prof. Kwaku Amaning Adjei cited the city of Accra as a case study where rapid urbanization has led to severe flooding issues. He emphasized the importance of public education on the dangers of dumping waste into drains and building too close to water bodies.

He called for multi-stakeholder collaboration, including working closely with academia, NGOs, and development partners to fund research that informs policy. He stressed the need for policies that require stormwater management designs for new developments and the provision of publicly accessible flood risk maps to aid in informed decision-making.

“We must encourage flood insurance to reduce the burden on individuals and the state during disasters,” he added.

To combat flooding effectively, Prof. Kwaku Amaning Adjei concluded that Ghana must commit to sustainable practices and policies, ensuring that all stakeholders work together. Public education and the enforcement of regulations on waste management and urban planning are key to reducing flood risks.