Water spillage effects on residents of Weija, Accra

Abstract

The study examined how the people of Weija are affected by perennial flooding and its effects on their livelihoods as well as their coping mechanisms. The study employed both quantitative and qualitative research approaches to collect primary data using multi-stage sampling technique to select 120 flood victims for the study. The data was analysed using Statistical Package for the Social Sciences (SPSS) and Microsoft Excel software. The results revealed that anthropogenic activities including farming, construction of new settlements by property developers served as the main contributory factor to siltation leading to reduction of volume capacity of the dam. The local institutions are unable to enforce building permits regulations due to land tenure arrangements which allows the traditional authorities and families to sell land to property developers. Informal settlement in the waterways has further increased the magnitude of the floods and its impact on lives and properties. Due to their vulnerability, they often succumb to the external shocks which affect their ability to rebuild their productive assets which further plunge them into perpetual poverty. The flood has caused undetermined infrastructure damage as well as loss of human lives. Thus, the support of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) was found to be deficient and there is a need for effective response to the dangers of disasters by building individual and community resilience. In conclusion, it is important to note that floods cannot be completely eradicated in the Weija community, but it can be controlled to safe levels ensuring human security. The need to find long lasting solution should be the priority not only for Government but for all stakeholders to join forces to remove all barriers that mitigate against building community resilience by enforcing various land use regulations.