Peri-urban households’ constraints to water security and changing economic needs under climate variability in ghana

Divine O. Appiah, Patrick Benebere, Felix Asante

Research output: Chapter in Book/Report/Conference proceedingChapterpeer-review

2 Citations (Scopus)

Abstract

Households in the Wa municipality depend on rainfall for their water supply. However, rainfall pattern in the area is highly erratic interspersed with drought. This poses a challenge to water availability, which affects the domestic and the commercial activities of the people. This chapter outlines the households’ constraints to adaptation against climate variability in ensuring water insecurity among the peri-urban residents. Using a mixed research design, 345 household partially precoded questionnaires were proportionately administered, together with focus group discussions (FGDs) organized in seven communities. Data were analyzed using the statistical product for services’ solution (SPSS) version 20 for Windows application. Results indicated that the respondents were aware of the occurrences of climate variability but did not understand its concept. It was observed that respondents with higher formal education were more aware of climate variability than those with low formal education. Adaptation strategies included planting trees around their homes and farms and also engaging in more than one economic activity. It was also observed that low access to technology to harvest rainfall together with poverty were the major constraints for adaptation to climate variability and water insecurity. The study recommends that climate change terminology be translated into local languages for easy understanding by many people. Their capacity should be built on rainwater harvesting to enable them tap rainwater.

Original languageEnglish
Title of host publicationSustainable Hydropower in West Africa
Subtitle of host publicationPlanning, Operation, and Challenges
PublisherElsevier
Pages137-158
Number of pages22
ISBN (Electronic)9780128130162
ISBN (Print)9780128130179
DOIs
Publication statusPublished - 1 Jan 2018
Externally publishedYes

Keywords

  • Climate variability
  • Constraints for adaptation
  • Ghana
  • Peri-urban household
  • Wa municipality
  • Water insecurity

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