KUMASI, Ghana – A recent study conducted by the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology has highlighted a concerning 54% decrease in green spaces within Kumasi.
The research, carried out by the Department of Geography and Rural Development, attributes this decline to unplanned and unregulated urban expansion in the city.
Published in the International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction, the study sought to understand the relationship between urban growth and flooding in Ghana, a connection frequently observed worldwide.
The research findings indicate a substantial increase in impermeable areas by 54% between 1986 and 2016, coinciding with a corresponding decline in permeable or green areas during the same period.
Additionally, several contributing factors were identified, including poor spatial planning, inadequate storm drain infrastructure, subpar waste management practices, and a lack of law enforcement, all of which collectively exacerbate the intensity and severity of floods in Kumasi.
Prof. Kabila Abass, who led the research team, emphasized the importance of adopting and enforcing smart growth policies to tackle uncontrolled urban expansion and its associated flood challenges.
He stated, “Besides, land use control through legislative enforcement and prioritizing greening by the city authorities and other key stakeholders are essential for effective flood control and mitigation in Kumasi.”
By Emmanuel Kwasi Debrah
