Abstract
The study examines urban poor dwellers perceived vulnerability to flooding. Specifically, it looked at the causes of flooding, people most affected, effects of the floods and the coping mechanisms employed in the aftermath of the floods. Two flood prone communities in the Accra Metropolitan Assembly, Jamestown and Agbogbloshie were selected. A total of fifty-three participants comprising of a minimum of six people were engaged in eight focus group discussions in the two communities. Discussions with respondents were audio taped in their local languages and later transcribed into English language with assistance of an expert. The study revealed drainage problem floods and flash floods as the two major flood types in both communities, however the former was predominant in Agbogbloshie. Proactive and reactive measures were community adaptation and coping mechanisms to flooding. Children, women, elderly and the poor populations were the most vulnerable groups to flooding. The study recommends the construction of proper drainage facilities by authorities in Agbogbloshie, since they suffer most as a result of poor drainage systems.
Key Words: Adaptation Mechanism, Drainage Systems, Flood Prone Communities, Flood Victims, Vulnerability
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