Anopheles vectors of malaria are supposedly less common in urban areas as a result of pollution, but there is increasing evidence of their adaptation to organically polluted water bodies. This study characterized the breeding habitats of Anopheles mosquitoes in the two major urban areas in southern Ghana; Accra (AMA) and Sekondi-Takoradi (STMA) Metropolitan Areas, during dry and wet seasons. Anopheles mosquito larvae were sampled using standard dipping methods to determine larval densities. The origin, nature and stability of 21 randomly selected sites were observed and recorded. Mosquito larvae were reared to adults and Anopheles species identified by both morphological and molecular means. Sixty-six percent of Anopheles habitats were permanent and 34% temporal, and 74.5% man-made while 25.5% were natural. Puddles and urban farm sites accounted for over 51% of all Anopheles mosquitoes sampled. The mean larval densities among the habitat types was highest of 13.7/dip for puddles and lowest of 2.3/dip for stream/river, and the variation between densities were significant (P = 0.002). The mean larval densities were significantly higher in the wet season than in the dry season for the two study areas combined (P = 0.0191) and AMA (P = 0.0228). Over 99% of the 5,802 morphologically identified Anopheles species were An. gambiae (s.l.) of which more than 99% of the studied 898 were An. coluzzii (62%) and An. gambiae (s.s.) (34%). Urban farms, puddles, swamps and ditches/ dugouts accounted for approximately 70% of all An. coluzzii identified. Conversely, drains, construction sites, streams/rivers and “others” contributed 80% of all An. gambiae (s.s.) sampled. The wet season had significantly higher proportion of Anopheles larvae compared to the dry season (Z = 8.3683, P < 0.0001). Also, the proportion of Anopheles mosquitoes produced by permanent breeding sites was 61.3% and that of temporary sites was 38.7%. Taken together, the data suggest that man-made and/ or permanent habitats were the main contributors to Anopheles larval populations in the cities and that regulation of the anthropogenic processes that lead to development of breeding places and proper environmental management can drastically reduce mosquito breeding sites in urban areas of Ghana.

Certain communities along the coast of Ketu South Municipality in south-eastern Ghana, remain vulnerable to coastal flood events from storm surges, high tidal waves, lagoon overflow, and heavy rainfall. However, the local conditions that make these communities vulnerable are poorly understood and knowledge on which communities are most vulnerable is lacking. This study improves the conceptual understanding of different dimensions of vulnerability that exist across the communities and the various levels of vulnerability that each exposed community exhibits. The study surveyed 354 household heads from selected flood-prone communities including Blekusu, Agavedzi, Salakope, Amutsinu, and Adina. The survey collected data on demographic, social, economic, physical, exposure, and adaptive capacity to flood hazards. The data was then used to construct composite vulnerability indices at community levels. Results from the study demonstrate that the communities have different levels of vulnerability as a result of differences in their exposure, sensitivity, and adaptive capacity levels. The willingness to relocate as an adaptation strategy was determined by household flood duration, number of livelihoods, and sea defence preference. These results are relevant to flood disaster management programs and the adoption of effective adaptation measures that take into account local knowledge. The findings imply that interventions aimed at reducing vulnerability should take into account household characteristics, as well as flood exposure, and adaptive capacity factors.

Communities along the Volta estuary of Ghana remain vulnerable to perennial tidal wave attacks, coastal erosion, and flooding because of increasing sea level rise from climate change. Using both qualitative and quantitative methods, community knowledge, and perceptions on disasters and disaster risks were explored. We also investigated perceived factors contributing to increase disasters, how communities’ knowledge and perceptions informed their preparedness and response to the disasters. Focus group discussions, key informant interviews and households survey were conducted in nine selected communities from two adjoining districts located immediate east and west of the Volta estuary. Results indicated that communities were knowledgeable about the perennial climate change-related disasters occurring in their districts. A z-test conducted on the respondents’ knowledge of key environmental threats revealed significant variations between the two districts. With much experience, households were able to tell when a weather phenomenon could be disastrous. Households over the years have devised various strategies to predict, cope with and reduce the effects of disasters. Some strategies for predicting the occurrence of disasters included watching the size and position of the moon, watching for, and listening to the chirps of certain birds and observing the patterns presented by clouds in the sky. Other strategies for coping with disasters include reliance on social capital to support the vulnerable in society as well as migrating out of the study areas. Overall, 53.5% of the households interviewed confirmed that between one (1) and four (4) members of their households had migrated to other places in Ghana and outside the country. The study concluded that communities in disaster-prone areas have good knowledge of their environment and should therefore be collaborated with to reduce the impact of disasters as stated in the Sendai Framework.

Disaster management has gained significant attention at both the international and local levels. This study explores power dynamics and examines the role of stakeholders at various governance levels in ensuring disaster risk reduction (DRR) and climate change adaptation (CCA) resilience among vulnerable communities. The study was conducted in Anloga and Ada East in Volta and Graeter Accra Regions of Ghana. It employed a mixed method approach for data collection. Qualitative participants (national, regional, district and community leaders) were purposively sampled while quantitative respondents (household heads) were systematically sampled. The qualitative data was analysed manually using the thematic approach and the quantitative using SPSS Version 21. Two proportions z -test was used to test for the significance of association or differences among the variables. The study revealed that policies, regulations and action plans were often employed as DRR and CCA strategies using a bottom-up approach. Visibility of disaster volunteer groups, relief support and capacity building of community members, which are key DRR and CCA activities at the local level, recorded a low ‘Yes’ response of less than 50% and a significant test for proportion among the two districts of p < .0001. It provides insights that can inform policy and interventions aimed at enhancing multi-stakeholder coordination, community empowerment and sustainable disaster management. It contributes to addressing the unexplored nexus between global frameworks, national institutions, and community-level stakeholder participation in disaster risk reduction and climate change adaptation management in Ghana.