Abstract:
The study aimed to examine the association between social support and perceived
vulnerability to flooding in two flood prone communities in the Accra Metropolitan
Assembly. Jamestown which is made up largely of Ga indigenes and Agbogbloshie an
ethnically heterogeneous community were selected.
Purposive and random sampling techniques were employed during the study. Purposive
sampling was used in selecting respondents who have had some flooding experience.
Random sampling on the other hand was employed in selecting non flood victims. Four
focus groups in each of the two communities comprising of a minimum of six people were
selected making a sample size of fifty three. Discussions with respondents were audio
taped in their local language and later transcribed into English language with assistance of
an expert. The transcribed scripts were further coded and themes that emerged were later
analysed using the thematic network approach.
The identified flooding types in both communities were drainage problem floods and flash
floods. Drainage problem flood were however the predominant type of flooding in
Agbogbloshie. Children, women, elderly and the poor populations were groups identified
to be most vulnerable to flooding. From the research it was revealed that, respondents in
Jamestown do not receive any social support in the aftermath of flooding. However, the
two forms of social support existed in Agbogbloshie, although very negligible. The only
formal support available was stones from the Assemblyman. Informal support from friends
and religious bodies was also available for flood victims in Agbogbloshie. To reduce the
incidence of drainage problem floods in the study area, authorities should help construct
proper drainage facilities in Agbogbloshie, since they suffer most as a result of poor
drainage systems. Tangible formal support in monetary terms should be provided to flood
victims to help them recover from this sudden distressing event.
