CLIMATE CHANGE IN ACCRA (WEIJA): Increased Flooding and Water Stress
In the Weija area of Accra, a well- known climate change impact experienced by local communities is increased flooding, particularly during the rainy Geographically, Weija lies downstream of the Weija Dam on the Densu River and it is an environment that historically acted as a natural floodplain or water-locked environment - that is, it naturally absorbed and managed the overruns of water.
However, the inadequate implementation of planning laws has seen unrestrained development in these flood prone and ecologically sensitive areas through massive settlements. The destruction of wetlands, plants and open floodplains to build houses and infrastructures has decreased the number of natural carbon sinks and eradicated surfaces that previously absorb rainfall. This leads to rain that could be used to slowly absorb now being surface runoff that accelerates the magnitude of floods in extreme weather condition- worsening of the frequency of the weather that is on the rise due to climate change.
Such anthropogenic environmental change of the landscape does not only exacerbate the flooding; it is a reverse loop of climate change. Soil erosion, water contamination, and destruction of vegetation are common in flooded regions that further diminish the capacity of the land to capture carbon and manage the temperatures. Also, organic waste, which leaks into the Weaja Dam as a result of contaminated floodwaters, decomposes anaerobically, which contributes to methane gas, a strong greenhouse gas. This forms a loop of local environmental degradation that causes more release of greenhouse gases, which indirectly strengthens the climate change perpetrators.
Moreover, the disappearance of natural buffers surrounding the dam compels authorities to use more engineering interventions to maintain a stable system like emergency spillages, and this is an indicator that the natural regulation capacity of the ecosystem is affected. The heavy precipitation caused by climate change and land degradation by humans hence makes Weija a climate-sensitive urban area that used to be a naturally sound floodplain.
The case in Weija shows that climate change influence is not necessarily dictated at the global scale, but is accelerated locally by the human choice. Poor regulation and unplanned urbanization undermine the natural climate defenses, enhance the effects of extreme weather, as well as indirectly leading to greenhouse gas emissions. This demonstrates that the community level of response to climate change involves the reduction of emissions as well as the robust environmental governance especially the regions that were previously used as natural climate buffers.
One major climate change–induced impact affecting my local community in Nigeria is increased flooding caused by intense rainfall. In recent years, rainfall has become more unpredictable and heavier, especially during the wet season. This is linked to global warming, which increases atmospheric moisture and intensifies extreme weather events.
These floods pose serious challenges for community members and infrastructure. Homes are frequently damaged or submerged, roads become impassable, and farmlands are destroyed, leading to crop losses and food insecurity. Flooding also increases the risk of waterborne diseases such as cholera and typhoid, disrupting daily life and livelihoods, particularly for low-income households.
In response, communities have adopted coping strategies such as elevating homes, clearing drainage channels, and relocating during peak floods. The government has introduced early warning systems and emergency relief through agencies like NEMA, while NGOs support awareness and resilience projects. However, these responses remain largely reactive, highlighting the need for stronger long-term adaptation and infrastructure planning.