Flood is an overflow of water that submerges, land that is usually dry. It may occur as an overflow of water from water bodies, such as a river, lake or oceans in which the water overtops or break levees, resulting in some of that water escaping its usual boundaries. 

Urban flooding has become a major problem in many parts of the world due its social, economic and environmental impact. In Ghana, flood occurs every year, which adversely affects livelihoods, properties, Infrastructure,lives and renders many people homeless. 

Ghana is not an exception when it comes to urban flooding. For example,  example, Ghana recorded unprecedented flood event in November 2010, which affected 55 communities and displaced 700,000 people. Additionally, 3234 houses were destroyed while 23,588 acres of farmlands were submerged. The total cost of the flood was estimated to be US$116,340.22 according to the National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO) report in 2010, Ghana. Additionally, on June 3, 2015, flood event led to over 150 deaths. Research shows massive destruction of property and economic loses. The worse affected regions include Greater Accra, Volta, Central, Western and Eastern Region. 

The flood issues are caused by changes in climate which human activities contribute to it. 

Climate change increases temperatures and, in turn, increases the potential for storm surges, increase snow melt and sea level rise. All these factors increase the risk, amount, and severity of flooding in regions across the regions. 

Also, human activities and behavior is major contributor to flood issues in Ghana. People build their houses in water-logg areas and water ways which do help water to flow effectively. This cause the water to redirect it ways and flow to damage people's property. Additionally, people dump plastic waste indiscriminately in drainage systems which cause flood in our cities and urban areas. 

To cope with this issues, we have to plan our cities by using planning principles that's safety, economy, convenience, harmony and aestetic. And there should be law enforcement and effective sanitation policies which will help us sustain the environment to avoid flood in our cities. 

In conclusion, flooding has become serious in the past decades which affects our cities and human lives. We should change our attitudes which cause flood in our cities and enforce the law for sustainable cities. 

Reference: Springer

https://link.springer.com › article

Causes, impacts and coping strategies of floods in Ghana