Just a couple of years ago, people living in Kumasi would
have had a troll at residents of Accra for the perennial flooding of the
capital city, whenever the rains set in.
But today, makeshift swimming pools abound in Ghana’s
second largest city – homes, markets and streets are now abodes of flood waters
anytime the heavens pour.
Flooding is indeed a growing phenomenon in the Garden
City; buildings are submerging, people are drowning and communities are being
displaced.
The excessive flood waters in the past two months have collapsed
bridges and washed away bitumen on roads, worsening the already pothole-ridden deplorable
roads.
Arterial roads are almost impassable with floods
everywhere.
Unlike Accra which is a coastal city, flood should not
be a natural occurrence in Kumasi. This makes the situation pathetic.
The reasons for flooding are not far-fetched but the
solution to arrest the havoc caused by rain waters is eluding city authorities.
Poor
Waste Management
Each downpour exposes the city’s poor waste management.
Uncollected solid waste and other materials indiscriminately disposed swim in
the flood.
When people are unable to access waste bins within
their immediate environs, they tend to litter and dump their waste into
gutters, water bodies, along streets and other open spaces.
Poorly disposed waste eventually chokes the free flow
of liquid waste. When rain water cannot have free passage through the filth,
flooding rears its head.
Poor
Drainage Systems
Most communities lack good drainage systems for liquid
waste disposal and passage of flood waters. Rivers and streams have despicably turned
into urban sewage systems.
Each downpour therefore puts a strain on bridges and
roads and the floods explore outlets to run out.
The waters either find rest in homes or push structures
off its way to run out.
Along the line comes the devastation.
Defective
Urban Planning
Kumasi is fast developing to a cosmopolitan city, but a
cursory observation of new constructions and infrastructural development points
to a defective urban planning.
New communities and building projects are haphazardly springing
up on wetlands and water bodies; trees are being fallen indiscriminately for
modern building structures; and there are no flood control contingencies.
The city’s poor environmental regulations put the
ecosystem at great risk.
Costly
Devastation
The number of flood-prone suburbs in Kumasi is increasing,
as the city’s vulnerability to destruction caused by rain water is exposed.
A good number of bridges have collapsed and others are
on the verge of caving in, putting commuters and local residents at safety risk.
Farming, trading and other economic activities are impeded
as commuters struggle to access the roads and bridges.
Commuters get frustrated in spending long period of time
for short trips, cost of plying roads increases as vehicles easily breakdown
whilst people are exposed to road accidents.
Inspite of the havoc caused by the rains, there seems
to be no immediate or long term intervention in sight.
Grave concerns have been expressed about the
indiscriminate building on waterways in the city.
Planners and environmentalists have also prevailed on
the city authorities to enforce by-laws on siting of buildings and other
development projects.
Soon, the rains will stop and citizens as well as
authorities will go to bed on the causes and effects of floods until yet
another year. The situation could worsen.
Hopefully, the current man-made disaster of flooding
will serve as wake-up call to begin climate-smart planning and re-engineering of
the city to avert reoccurrence and adapt sustainably to harsh weather
conditions.
By Kofi Adu Domfeh
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