A research by the Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology has disclosed that green spaces in Kumasi have decreased by 54 percent.

The research by the Department of Geography and Rural Development also cited unplanned and unregulated urban expansion as a cause.

The research is published in the International Journal of Disaster Risk Reduction.

Urban area growth has often been linked to flooding worldwide. This study therefore set out to find out how this influences flooding situations in Ghana.

The researchers found that impermeable areas have expanded by 54% from 1986 to 2016 while permeable or green areas have declined by the same rate within the period.

Other factors such as poor spatial planning, inadequate storm drain infrastructure, poor waste management practices, and law enforcement lax, combine to increase the intensity and severity of the floods.

The researchers, led by Prof. Kabila Abass recommend that adopting and enforcing smart growth policies are key in addressing the uncontrolled urban expansion and its associated flood challenges.

“Besides, land use control through legislative enforcement and prioritizing greening by the city authorities and other key stakeholders are essential for effective flood control and mitigation in Kumasi,” he said.