Ghana’s weak settlement planning and inadequate protection for low-income communities are increasing disaster risks, threatening livelihoods, infrastructure and the economic resilience of cities.
Ghana’s ability to withstand disasters depends increasingly on how it plans its cities, provides affordable housing and protects vulnerable communities whose livelihoods and economic contributions are often overlooked in urban development decisions.
Emeritus Professor Jacob Songsore of the Department of Geography and Resource Development at the University of Ghana said poor settlement planning and the neglect of vulnerable populations were undermining efforts to build resilient communities in Ghana and across West Africa.
He said the region’s relative poverty and limited contribution to many of the factors driving disasters placed it at a disadvantage, even as its people continued to bear a disproportionate share of the consequences.
Speaking at the West Africa commemoration of the 2026 International Day for Disaster Risk Reduction in Accra, Prof. Songsore called for improved urban planning, better housing conditions and stronger protection for low-income communities.
The event, organised by the School of Nuclear and Allied Sciences (SNAS) of the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission (GAEC) and the University of Ghana, was held under the theme, “Resilience Starts at Home.”
Prof. Songsore said disaster prevention must become a central consideration in urban development, warning that the absence of proper structural plans to guide settlement expansion could expose communities to avoidable hazards and increase the economic cost of disasters.
For Ghana, where flooding, fires and other hazards can disrupt trading activities, damage property and destroy household assets, he said the consequences of poor planning extended beyond public safety to livelihoods and economic stability.
He stressed that governments and local authorities needed to improve living conditions for low-income residents rather than pursue urban redevelopment measures that displaced vulnerable populations without providing suitable alternatives.
“It’s important to know that the poor matter,” he said, emphasising that low-income residents played essential roles in the functioning of cities and should not be treated as disposable in urban development decisions.
He called for safe and suitable places where vulnerable populations could live, work and sustain their livelihoods, stressing that inclusive planning was essential to building communities capable of withstanding disasters.
The professor said shifting from emergency response to prevention required the application of science and technology, sustained public education and stronger commitment from municipal and district assemblies and the State.
He said the Department had introduced a programme in Disaster Risk Reduction Science through its links with the Africa Disaster Risk Reduction Network to strengthen expertise in the field.
Plans were also underway to establish a centre focused on artificial intelligence and expand academic programmes to cover climate change, gender and development, and disaster risk reduction.
Prof. Songsore said integrating scientific research, responsible urban planning and inclusive development would help reduce communities’ exposure to hazards and strengthen their capacity to recover from disasters.
Prof. Samuel B. Dampare, Director-General of the Ghana Atomic Energy Commission, also called for sustained public education, community sensitisation and stronger institutional collaboration to improve disaster preparedness.
He said resilience required proactive measures that enabled individuals, households and communities to anticipate hazards, understand early warnings and respond effectively to emergencies.
West Africa faced multiple hazards, including floods, soil and coastal erosion, landslides, tidal waves, fires, road accidents, conflicts, earthquakes and environmental degradation, he said, requiring coordinated and inclusive risk-reduction strategies.
Prof. Dampare called for closer collaboration among government agencies, scientific institutions, academia, emergency services, communities, the private sector, civil society, the media and development partners to strengthen preparedness before disasters occurred.
He said simulation exercises, emergency drills and joint training were necessary to test preparedness plans, clarify institutional responsibilities and identify gaps before emergencies arose.
Such measures, he said, could reduce confusion, prevent duplication of efforts and minimise delays in emergency response, helping to protect lives, livelihoods and critical infrastructure.
“Science, technology and innovation also plays critical roles in understanding hazards, strengthening early warning systems, assessing vulnerabilities and supporting evidence-based decisions,” he added.
Prof. Dampare emphasised the need to translate scientific findings into practical guidance that households and communities could understand and apply.
He urged participants to develop practical solutions to strengthen institutional capacity, improve community preparedness and protect infrastructure and livelihoods, while sustaining partnerships beyond the programme.
