Flooding related challenges of lagoon settlements: A case study of Keta, Ghana

Abstract

Floods occur when a body of water rises to overflow land which is normally not submerged. The causes and socio-economic effects of flooding in the lagoon settlement basin have been investigated in this research. The Keta Lagoon floods its banks and as a consequence leads to destruction of lives and properties. This study aimed at investigating the effects of lagoon flooding on communities along the Keta lagoon, as an environmental hazard on life, property and the socio-economic activities of residents. The study adopted descriptive research design and employed both primary and secondary data and used convenient sampling technique to administer 395 questionnaires. Four (4) key informants were purposely selected from related institutions. The study found out that the causes of flooding in the Keta lagoon settlement basin were both natural and artificial. Climate change contributed to the natural cause of flooding through increase in annual and seasonal rainfall at least, over the last thirty years. Rise in rainfall led to increase in the discharge of the Keta lagoon. The man-made causes of flooding in the Keta lagoon include poor land use, unplanned development of settlements, and indiscriminate disposal of refuse into and on the banks of the lagoon. The socio-economic effects of floods in the basin include loss of life and property as well as financial and health problems faced by inhabitants of the basin. Also, the actions and inactions of concerned institutions have encouraged the haphazard development of settlements in the basin. The resettlement of communities in the Keta Lagoon basin and the enforcement of laws which protect the environment and its inhabitants as well as the proper disposal of refuse were key recommendations made as a solution to the problem.