Professor Kusimi urges Ghanaians to embrace green spaces to reduce flooding and urban heat

A Professor at the Department of Geography and Resource Development, Professor John Kusimi, has called on Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) to encourage residents to adopt greener approaches to property development to help reduce flooding and rising temperatures in urban communities.

He says the increasing practice of paving entire residential compounds, alongside the construction of roads and other concrete structures, is reducing the amount of rainwater that naturally seeps into the ground, resulting in increased surface runoff and pressure on drainage systems.

According to Professor Kusimi, when large portions of the land are covered with concrete, tiles and bitumen, rainwater has limited opportunities to infiltrate the soil. Instead, the water flows directly into drains, increasing their volume and the risk of flooding, particularly during heavy rainfall.

He is therefore urging local assemblies to strengthen inspections and enforce development practices that combine paved surfaces with green spaces.

Professor Kusimi explained that homeowners do not necessarily have to abandon paving altogether but should consider leaving portions of their compounds uncovered and planting grass and trees to allow rainwater to penetrate the soil.

He recommended that walkways and essential areas could be paved while other sections of residential compounds are maintained as green spaces.

Beyond the impact on flooding, the Geography and Resource Development Professor warned that excessive paving and concrete structures are also contributing to rising urban temperatures.

He explained that paved surfaces and buildings alter how heat from the sun is absorbed and reflected, contributing to the urban heat island effect, which makes cities considerably warmer.

Professor Kusimi noted that vegetation plays an important role in regulating urban temperatures by providing shade, absorbing carbon dioxide and improving the overall environmental quality of cities.

He stressed that planting trees, growing grass and maintaining green spaces in homes and public areas would help reduce excessive heat while improving air quality and the general well-being of residents.

He further called on Ghanaians to make greening their surroundings a priority, emphasising that sustainable urban development must go beyond buildings, roads and paved compounds.

Professor Kusimi believes that embracing greener landscapes is not only an environmental necessity but also an important step towards building climate-resilient cities that are better equipped to deal with flooding and extreme heat.