Ecosystem-based disaster risk reduction: District-level collaboration for flood mitigation in Accra, Ghana

The document examines the causes of annual flooding in Accra, Ghana, and advocates for the integration of nature-based solutions, specifically ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA), alongside traditional infrastructure. It highlights the need for coordinated management across municipal and district assemblies to address shared waterways and drainage systems.

• Accra has experienced at least one major flood disaster annually for the past 10 years, driven by a combination of climate change, population growth, urbanisation, and rural-to-urban migration.
• Flooding in Accra is exacerbated by poor drainage infrastructure, blockages from plastic waste and rubbish, urban sprawl leading to unplanned communities, construction in wetland areas, and the use of impermeable hard surfaces.
• Ecosystem-based adaptation (EbA) is proposed as a cost-effective nature-based solution for flood attenuation. Examples include restoring wetland habitats and planting vertiver grass to control erosion and slow runoff.
• There is a critical lack of coordination and communication between neighbouring municipal and district assemblies, which leads to inefficient flood prevention efforts, such as de-silting gutters without informing upstream or downstream districts.

APA

Gordon, P. C., & Kwawu, M. (2020). Ecosystem-based disaster risk reduction: District-level collaboration for flood mitigation in Accra, Ghana. Climate and Development Knowledge Network. https://cdkn.org/sites/default/files/files/PB-Flood-mitigation-Accra-Ghana-Web-1.pdf

Chicago

Gordon, Professor Christopher, and Millicent Kwawu. Ecosystem-based disaster risk reduction: District-level collaboration for flood mitigation in Accra, Ghana. Climate and Development Knowledge Network, 2020. https://cdkn.org/sites/default/files/files/PB-Flood-mitigation-Accra-Ghana-Web-1.pdf.

Wikipedia

{{cite report |last1=Gordon |first1=Professor Christopher |last2=Kwawu |first2=Millicent |title=Ecosystem-based disaster risk reduction: District-level collaboration for flood mitigation in Accra, Ghana |publisher=Climate and Development Knowledge Network |date=June 2020 |url=https://cdkn.org/sites/default/files/files/PB-Flood-mitigation-Accra-Ghana-Web-1.pdf |access-date=17 August 2026 |via=Climate Insights Directory}}

BibTeX

@techreport{gordon2020ecosystembased, author = {Gordon, Professor Christopher and Kwawu, Millicent}, title = {{Ecosystem-based disaster risk reduction: District-level collaboration for flood mitigation in Accra, Ghana}}, institution = {Climate and Development Knowledge Network}, year = {2020}, month = jun, url = {https://cdkn.org/sites/default/files/files/PB-Flood-mitigation-Accra-Ghana-Web-1.pdf}, urldate = {2026-08-17}, note = {Indexed by Climate Insights Directory} }