Improving Community Resilience to Perennial Flooding Through Risk Communication

This article analyses differences in effect of disasters, risk communication practices, and perception on government agencies using a mixed method approach. The quantitative data consisted of responses of a survey from households and the qualitative data consisted of responses from key informant interview. Descriptive and inferential statistics were used to summarise and explain the survey results whilst responses from the interview were thematically analysed. The outcome of the survey on effect of disasters on household show the mean cost of injury and/or property damage for recent residents (GHS 2892.42) differed from that of longtime residents (GHS 4143.75). Also, mean number of displacement days for recent residents (37.85 days) differed from that of longtime residents (24.22 days). Again, majority of respondents indicated barriers in communication and perceived government agencies as lacking resources, competence, and empathy. The article concludes that households must be properly engaged to reduce disaster risk in Ghana.