Causes and effects of perennial flooding in urban centres in Ghana
Some of the causes of flooding in urban centres in Ghana are poor planning of towns and cities, poor drainage systems, improper disposal of refuse, silting and choking of drains, improper enforcement of laws on building construction and sanitation and low and flat lands.
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Poor planning of towns and cities
One of the main causes of flooding in towns and cities is that the layout of buildings and other structures is poorly made. Buildings for human settlements, offices and businesses are not properly and orderly arranged. There are haphazardly built structures and buildings without adequate spaces created in between these buildings.
Poor drainage systems
Poor drainage systems in the towns and cities contribute immensely to flooding in these areas. In cities and towns such as Accra, Kumasi and Sekondi-Takoradi, drains are poorly constructed. The drains and gutters constructed are not large enough to ensure easy flow of water. The result is that when the rains fall heavily, there is an overflow of water, even in areas considered to be dry.
Improper disposal of refuse
Another cause of flooding is the improper way in which people and business enterprises dispose of their solid waste. Households, passengers, pedestrians and educational institutions throw their garbage, wrappers, plastics and scraps into gutters, streets and drains.
Silting and choking of drains
Silting and choking of drains, resulting from poor drainage systems and improper disposal of refuse is also a major cause of flooding in cities and towns. People, market women and business enterprises throw their garbage into drains and gutters. This prevents the easy flow of water. As such, some communities become flooded whenever it rains heavily.
Poor architecture
Poor architecture resulting from ignorance on the effects of the improper siting of buildings is a further cause of flooding in towns and cities in Ghana. In cities such as Accra, Kumasi and Sekondi-Takoradi, people construct their buildings on water- courses, thereby blocking the passage of water. Hence, there is an overflow of water resulting in flooding whenever it rains heavily.
Improper enforcement of laws on building construction and sanitation
There are floods in cities and towns because the laws that govern building construction and sanitation are not strictly enforced by the authorities concerned. The non-enforcement of these laws has allowed people to flout them with impunity as people construct their buildings anywhere in the cities.
Low level and flat land
A natural cause of flooding in some cities and towns in the country is the flat nature of the lands. In cities such as Accra, most parts of the area lie below the sea level and they are flat in nature. Such areas become submerged anytime they experience heavy rains. Silted and choked drains also account for these mishaps.
The effects of flooding on the environment
Some of the effects of flooding on the environment are the destruction of life and property, destruction of crops, soil erosion, loss of soil fertility and waterlogged land or soil.
Destruction of life and property
One of the major effects of flooding is the destruction of life and property. Many people lose their lives through flooding. Flooding also results in the destruction of buildings and vehicles, rendering a lot of people homeless. Animals such as cattle, sheep, goats, fowls and dogs die during the floods.
Destruction of crops
Another effect of flooding is that crops and plants. The swiftness of the water uproots plants are destroyed and carries them away. The result is low agricultural production, leading to scarcity of food and exorbitant prices of food.
Soil erosion
Flooding leads to soil erosion. The quick and swift flow of water is able to remove and carry away the top soil which contains most of the plant nutrients, making the soil infertile. Soil erosion renders buildings weak, leading to their collapse. Channels and gullies are also created on streets and roads, making some of them impassable.
Waterlogged land or soil
Flooding further leads to the land or soil becoming waterlogged. As flood water remains on the land for long periods, it becomes saturated, that is, it contains too much water than it can hold. Such land cannot be used for any agricultural activity, as most crops do not do well in waterlogged soils.
The writer is an Assistant Registrar, University of Mines and Technology, Tarkwa