Geographically induced and the spatially differentiated dimension of flood vulnerability in Greater Kumasi Metropolis, Ghana

ABSTRACT

Over the past several years, the constant flooding events and their lethal consequences have reignited the debate on the need for vulnerability assessment of flood-prone communities in urban areas as a flood risk mitigation and adaptation measure. This article focuses on Ghana and uses remotely sensed high-resolution data, and community mapping to assess the flood vulnerability of 442 urban communities of the Greater Kumasi Metropolitan Area (GKMA). The Compound Topographic Index and the Shuttle Radar Topographic Mission were used systematically. The results showed that 43% of communities were found in low-risk areas, 30% were in medium-risk areas, and 27% were in high-risk areas. Flood intensity and frequencies were found to be dependent on location relative to slopes and undulating terrain. We argue that the identified flood hazard communities should guide policymakers in proffering specific and targeted interventions toward flood risk reduction and community resilience strategies

KEYWORDS:

• Urbanization
• flooding
• geospatial technologies
• spatial planning
• flood risk reduction

Disclosure statement

No potential conflict of interest was reported by the author(s).

Additional information

Notes on contributors

Anthony Kwabena Sarfo

Anthony Kwabena Sarfo is an expert in Planning and geospatial technologies. He is presently a Technical Advisor (GIS and Remote Sensing) in GIZ-Ghana on the Resilience Against Climate Change Project (EU-REACH). His interest is in Planning, Climate Impact, Climate Adaptation measures and Geospatial Technologies.

Ebenezer Owusu-Sekyere

Ebenezer Owusu-Sekyere is an Associate Professor of Geography at the University for Development Studies, Ghana. He is an accomplished academic with diverse experience and expertise in Geography, Research, Higher Education Management and Curriculum Development. His area of research includes Urban Environmental Management, Disaster Risk Management and Climate Change.

Alfred Toku

Alfred Toku holds an M.Phil. in Development Studies and a BSc. in Integrated Development Studies with a specialization in Development Studies. He is a lecturer in the Department of Planning and Land Administration, University for Development Studies, Tamale, Ghana. He is an urban development planner with comprehensive knowledge of urban and peri-urban studies. His research interests include urban planning, sustainable development, and environmental planning. He has published extensively on regional planning, sanitation, spatial modelling, agriculture, climate change, land acquisition, local livelihood challenges, and adaptation

Nelson Nyabanyi N-Yanbini

Nelson Nyabanyi N-yanbini is a lecturer at the Department of Urban Design and Infrastructure Studies, SD Dombo University of Business and Integrated Development Studies, Wa. He holds an MPhil in Planning and a Bachelor of Science in Human Settlement Planning, both from the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST). Nelson previously worked as a Project Coordinator in Family Support Lifeline (NGO) and as a Teaching and Research Assistant at the Department of Planning, KNUST. His areas of research interests are climate change adaptation, urban/spatial planning, urban sustainability, eco-tourism and land governance.