Mobility Disruptions in Accra: Recurrent Flooding, Fragile Infrastructure and Climate Change
Date
2022
Journal Title
Journal ISSN
Volume Title
Publisher
Sustainability
Abstract
This paper analyzes the mobility disruptions experienced by urban residents in relation to
heavy precipitation and flooding of roads. The empirical focus is Accra, Ghana, a rapidly growing
African city with discernible challenges in its transport system and a longstanding history of recurrent
flood hazards, which are likely to be exacerbated by climate change in the future. In a context where
there is very little mobility data available from official sources; the paper utilizes data from a large
mobility survey (n = 1053) conducted through in-person interviews in July–August 2021 in 10 selected
neighborhoods in Accra’s sprawling periphery. The survey targeted economically active adults.
who are travelling regularly in relation to their income-generating activities. The survey recorded
respondents’ experiences with a wide range of mobility disruptions caused by heavy precipitation
and water on the roads. The analysis of survey data is supplemented with insights from qualitative
interviews with a range of local key informants (n = 75). The research illuminates the diversity of
mobility disruptions experienced by Accra’s residents during and after heavy precipitation events
and the adverse implications for livelihoods and access to markets and services. The results highlight
that mobility disruptions related to heavy precipitation are an extremely commonplace experience
for residents in Accra’s periphery, across a diverse collection of neighborhoods and across travel
patterns and traveler characteristics. While existing research tends to privilege the most dramatic
and disastrous flood events and the associated destruction of property; this research, however, draws
attention to the somewhat under-researched topic of mobility disruptions to everyday activities and
their implications for livelihoods and access to markets and services.
Description
Research Article
Keywords
sustainable transport, transport infrastructure, African cities