Urban Growth and Disaster Risk Accumulation Nexus: The Case of Wa Municipal Area

Abstract

Recent demographic dynamics have revealed a dramatic shift in the world’s population, manifesting for the first time ever, more than half of all the world’s population living in urban areas, with 2008 being the transition year. Ghana is not an exception, as its urban centres continue to experience unprecedented growth. Although cities are focal points for development, they equally potentiate the accumulation of risks if not managed properly. The objective of the study therefore is to examine the relationship between urban growth of Wa and possible risk accumulation using a mixed method approach. A multi-stage sampling technique was adopted for the study due to the heterogeneous nature of the area. The finding of the study reveals that Wa has experienced unprecedented population and physical growth since 1980. This has compelled urban stakeholders including the Town and Country Planning Department and National Disaster Management Organization to develop various policy interventions to manage this growth. Nonetheless, residents remain exposed to many unsafe conditions. The findings mirror these assertions as many participants of the study remain saddled with inadequate potable water supply, poor sanitation, indiscriminate dumping and haphazard building. Accordingly, incidences such as frequent diarrhoea, flooding and fire outbreaks have become the bane of most communities in Wa Municipal area. The study observes that since the city authorities appear to be at their wits end, an all-inclusive governance could be a possible antidote for the current situation. It is also recommended that the implementation of Public-Private Partnership (PPP) can also help bridge the infrastructure gap and raise the needed capital to help abate the numerous vulnerable conditions residents of Wa are currently exposed to.