Strengthening Ghana's Flood Risk Governance: Insights from Global Community-Based Models

Abstract:

Flooding is a pressing global issue, intensified by climate change and the lack of community involvement in mitigation efforts. In Ghana, especially in urban areas like Greater Accra, the increasing frequency of flood disasters has exposed the limitations of the country's top-down governance approach. This model, characterized by minimal local participation and inflexible planning processes, has proven inadequate in addressing the complexity of flood risks. This study assesses Ghana's progress in flood risk governance and draws insights from successful community-based models implemented globally. Through a systematic review of 125 relevant articles, the research identifies nine key themes for effective community-based flood risk governance. Among these, community engagement emerged as the most critical, emphasized in 76 articles. Other important themes include addressing vulnerable groups, fostering effective communication and education, ensuring institutional support, and adopting adaptive planning practices. The study reveals that in Ghana, community leaders are largely excluded from decision-making and are primarily involved in implementing pre-made plans.

Additionally, regional disparities in flood frequency were noted, with the southern regions being more affected. The study advocates for increased community empowerment, stronger stakeholder collaboration, enhanced communication, and adopting nature-based solutions to improve flood resilience. These findings offer practical recommendations to strengthen Ghana's flood risk governance and contribute valuable insights to the broader global discourse on disaster risk management, aiming to mitigate the socioeconomic impacts of flooding.

Keywords: Flood Disaster, Flood Risk Governance, Community-Based Approach, Ladder of Participation, Ghana

Authors: