Ghana (Jasaw et al. 2017) (see Chap. 2 Vol. 1 for similar situation in Uganda). Semiarid Ghana is also noted for being socio-economically isolated, characterized by
poor social support systems and physical infrastructure, and the highest incidence of
poverty in the country (World Bank 2011; Songsore 2011; Ghana Statistical Service
(GSS) 2014). The seasonal and permanent youth out-migration to cities in the
southern parts of Ghana is commonly used as a coping and adaptation strategy
(Schraven 2010).
Based on past studies, reports of disaster management organizations and preliminary field surveys under the CECAR-Africa project, we selected Tolon and Wa
West Districts as the specific study sites (see Fig. 1). These districts have high
incidence of droughts and floods, which have substantial impacts on social, economic, cultural and environmental systems (Musah and Oloruntoba 2013; Owusu
et al. 2016). Although both study locations are drought and flood prone, droughts are
more severe than floods in Tolon, while floods are more severe than droughts in Wa
West (Antwi et al. 2014). Thus, in this chapter, we consider the Tolon area as
“drought-prone”, and the Wa West area as “flood prone”.
Subsequently, we purposely selected ten rural communities due to their proneness
to droughts and floods. Six drought-prone communities were selected from Tolon
district while four flood-prone communities were selected from Wa West district
(Table 1). The number of communities were more in Tolon due to the fact that
drought is more pronounces and frequent. The population of the studied communities ranges from 3751 people (Yoggu) to 195 people (Cheshagu), with also some
variation in some other key demographic characteristics (Table 2).
An overwhelming proportion of the population in both districts live in rural
settings, with over 90% of the workforce being involved in smallholder rain-fed
farming and animal husbandry (Ghana Statistical Service 2012). Staple crops and
vegetables produced include maize, sorghum, millet, yam, groundnut, tomatoes and
cowpea, and are grown by almost every household and local community in the study
districts. Food insecurity, linked to droughts and floods, is an annual challenge for
communities in both districts, as well as many other local communities across semiarid Ghana (Armah et al. 2011).
Torrential rainfall is the major cause of flooding in both study districts, which
further causes significant damage to infrastructure, building, farmlands and other
natural land uses (Acheampong et al. 2014; Armah et al. 2010). Annual flooding in
Tolon can be characterized as small-scale and short-lived (i.e. within 1 hour), as no
major rivers flow through the communities. On the other hand, the studied communities in Wa West district are located in close proximity to the Black Volta River, and
thus some of these communities have experienced some of the most severe and
catastrophic floods in recent memory in semi-arid Northern Ghana.
Droughts often precede the periodic floods in the studied sites, and have many
negative impacts on food crop yields, water availability and livelihood security
(EPA 2012) (see also Chap. 2 Vol. 2). The reliance of local communities on rainfed agriculture for subsistence and income generation means that the irregular
rainfall patterns, coupled with sustained droughts, can result in poor food crop yields
and food insecurity. Linked to droughts is the issue of regulated and unregulated
200
Y. A. Boafo et al.
poor social support systems and physical infrastructure, and the highest incidence of
poverty in the country (World Bank 2011; Songsore 2011; Ghana Statistical Service
(GSS) 2014). The seasonal and permanent youth out-migration to cities in the
southern parts of Ghana is commonly used as a coping and adaptation strategy
(Schraven 2010).
Based on past studies, reports of disaster management organizations and preliminary field surveys under the CECAR-Africa project, we selected Tolon and Wa
West Districts as the specific study sites (see Fig. 1). These districts have high
incidence of droughts and floods, which have substantial impacts on social, economic, cultural and environmental systems (Musah and Oloruntoba 2013; Owusu
et al. 2016). Although both study locations are drought and flood prone, droughts are
more severe than floods in Tolon, while floods are more severe than droughts in Wa
West (Antwi et al. 2014). Thus, in this chapter, we consider the Tolon area as
“drought-prone”, and the Wa West area as “flood prone”.
Subsequently, we purposely selected ten rural communities due to their proneness
to droughts and floods. Six drought-prone communities were selected from Tolon
district while four flood-prone communities were selected from Wa West district
(Table 1). The number of communities were more in Tolon due to the fact that
drought is more pronounces and frequent. The population of the studied communities ranges from 3751 people (Yoggu) to 195 people (Cheshagu), with also some
variation in some other key demographic characteristics (Table 2).
An overwhelming proportion of the population in both districts live in rural
settings, with over 90% of the workforce being involved in smallholder rain-fed
farming and animal husbandry (Ghana Statistical Service 2012). Staple crops and
vegetables produced include maize, sorghum, millet, yam, groundnut, tomatoes and
cowpea, and are grown by almost every household and local community in the study
districts. Food insecurity, linked to droughts and floods, is an annual challenge for
communities in both districts, as well as many other local communities across semiarid Ghana (Armah et al. 2011).
Torrential rainfall is the major cause of flooding in both study districts, which
further causes significant damage to infrastructure, building, farmlands and other
natural land uses (Acheampong et al. 2014; Armah et al. 2010). Annual flooding in
Tolon can be characterized as small-scale and short-lived (i.e. within 1 hour), as no
major rivers flow through the communities. On the other hand, the studied communities in Wa West district are located in close proximity to the Black Volta River, and
thus some of these communities have experienced some of the most severe and
catastrophic floods in recent memory in semi-arid Northern Ghana.
Droughts often precede the periodic floods in the studied sites, and have many
negative impacts on food crop yields, water availability and livelihood security
(EPA 2012) (see also Chap. 2 Vol. 2). The reliance of local communities on rainfed agriculture for subsistence and income generation means that the irregular
rainfall patterns, coupled with sustained droughts, can result in poor food crop yields
and food insecurity. Linked to droughts is the issue of regulated and unregulated
200
Y. A. Boafo et al.