strategies to minimize hazards of construction activities on wetlands: a case study of the kumasi...

Management of the Effects of Construction Activities

STRATEGIES TO MINIMIZE HAZARDS OF CONSTRUCTION ACTIVITIES ON

WETLANDS: A CASE STUDY OF THE KUMASI METROPLIS

Amo Moses (MPhil Const. Student)

Department of Wood and Construction Technology

University of Education Winneba-Kumasi, 2015

ABSTRACT

The study set out to examine strategies that can be used to minimise potential hazards resulting from construction

activities on wetlands in the Metropolis. The study adopted the quantitative approach in investigating the problem.

Descriptive and cross-sectional designs were used to study 20 organisations related to wetland management,

protection and conservation in Kumasi metropolis. Questionnaires were used to collect data for the study. Statistical

tools used to analyse the data collected included descriptive tools such as frequencies and percentages. It was

evidently clear that replacement of old drains, planting of shade trees along the streams and rivers, education

campaigns, demarcation of wetlands, wetland mapping and inventory can be adopted as a way of managing the

effects of construction activities on wetlands in the Kumasi Metropolis. Finally, the study recommends that, city

authorities must device pragmatic measures of implementing these strategies and efforts.

Keywords: Construction activities, wetland acquisition and development and hazards of construction activities.

Introduction

The wetlands of Ghana form an ecologically valuable natural resource which has great

importance to the environment and the society at large. The wetland ecosystems are distributed

over the entire country and constitute about ten percent of the country’s total land surface (Food

and Agriculture Organisation [FAO] Ghana, 2014). According to Ramsar Convention (2007b),

Ghana has 6 designated sites of wetlands of international importance and a total land surface area

of 178,410 hectares.

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Wetlands offer tremendous ecological benefits to the health of the environment. They help to

filter and remove pollutants such as sediments and toxic substances from the ecosystem (Anku,

2006). Wetlands collect and store the excess storm water that runs off uplands as well as the

waters from flooding rivers. This helps to provide temporary storage areas for surplus water that

may cause destruction to lives and properties (Mitsch & Gosselink, 2000b). There are many

economic benefits of the ecological set up of the wetlands. They provide recreational

opportunities, tourism, food production and medicinal purposes. Verhoeven, Beltman, Bobbink,

and Whigham (2006) proposed that, wetlands must be protected because they support high levels

of plant and animal diversity which support the economy country. The ecological set up of

wetlands provides beauty and well-being to the environment. According to U.S. EPA (2003),

most people like being on or near the waters for enjoyment or relaxation, because of their nature

and beauty.

The construction industry is one of the most important sectors in our system, with significant

contribution to both industrial output and overall Gross Domestic Product (GPD) in Ghana (Osei,

2013). It plays an essential role in the socio economic development of the country, and

has a lot of significance to the achievement of national socio-economic development goals

of providing infrastructure, sanctuary and employment (Ofori, 2012). Danso and Manu (2013)

emphasized that, all other sectors of the economy depend much on building and construction.

This is because every sector of the economy depends on it for their infrastructural needs. The

sector assist in providing house for accommodation, offices, hospital, school, road network,

railways, ware houses, shops and other infrastructure of the economy (Osei, 2013).

Construction activities are also important for beautification of the environment through proper

planning of structures and street layout. The industry is also beneficial in maintaining a clean and

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healthy environment through construction of good drains and channels to direct surface and

waste water to their proper places. Also, solid and liquid waste can properly be collected and

treated through construction activities. Despite the numerous benefits of construction activities, it

also has some serious consequences on the environment. According to Chen, Li, and Hong

(2004), the accumulated amount of adverse environmental impacts like waste, noise, dust, and

hazardous emissions still occur during the construction process which cause serious damages to

humans and ecosystems. These impacts may have direct or indirect effects on the environment

and can be short or long term. There is therefore the need to enhance the identification of the

major environmental impacts of construction processes to help improve the effectiveness of

environmental management systems (Zolfagharian, Nourbakhsh, Irizarry, Ressang & Gheisari,

2012). According to Hollis (1990), wetlands are under threat from agricultural intensification,

pollution, major engineering schemes and urban development. However there are relatively few

studies from the less developed parts of the world which have calculated on a regional or a

national scale the relative significance of the various threats (Hollis, 1990).

Building and construction has to support the world of continuing population growth and

economic development, at the same time, it must pay heed to the widespread social interest in

environmental preservation (Horvath, 2004). There are policies governing the acquisition and

development on wetlands in the country. However as to what extent the policies are been

implemented is yet to be known. According to Betey and Owusu-Boateng (2013), city authorities

find it difficult to protect and conserve wetlands effectively because of the land tenure system of

which most of the lands are stool owned instead of the state. Also Betey and Owusu-Boateng

(2013) opined that, there is difficulty in delineating the wetlands because of the land tenure

system in the country. Clausniter and Huddleston (2002), outlined that delineation of wetlands is

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difficult because wetlands have high seasonal hydrology, indistinct wet soil conditions,

small temporary wet-season plants, and ambiguity about sub-species. On the other hand, the

policies on wetlands specify that physical development must be restrained within the core area of

the wetlands, that is, about 30m buffer range from rivers and streams (Ministry of Water

Resources, Works and Housing [MWRWH], 2011). Therefore the city authorities can still

protect and conserve this buffer range to help wetlands perform their ecological functions to

sustain the environment.

Some researchers both local and international have done some works on the ecological

importance of wetlands to the environment and society as a whole. Abdul-Razak (2012)

presented an assessment of wetland ecosystem decline in Kumasi and found that, wetlands in

Kumasi are undergoing negative transformation by losing their social, economic, and

environmental values due to a number of human activities such as waste disposal, agricultural

activities and settlements. Betey (2012) assessed the state of wetlands, incidence of

flooding and stakeholder needs for the management of wetlands in Kumasi

and concluded that, there should be responsible management of wetlands

and floods through the enforcement of land use plans, demolition of houses

on waterways and setting up public parks. Studies are still rare on strategies of

minimising the effects of construction activities on wetlands in Kumasi. According to Kar

(2013), studies on wetlands have recently gained much significance due to their ecological

importance to the world’s economy.

Statement of the Problem

Linli and Shi (2012), report that urban population is increasing at a faster rate and this has

accelerated economic, social and infrastructural development. Building and construction cannot

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take place without lands (Forkuor, 2010). As a result, acquisition of land for constructional

purposes has become very scarce and expensive in the urban areas. There is increasing pressure

on all natural resources including wetlands (Ghana National Commission for UNESCO, 2010)

which were less used for constructional purposes in the olden days. Consequently, numerous

settlements and buildings are now developing on all wetlands in the Kumasi metropolis.

The wetlands perform ecological functions such as minimising flooding and reducing pollution

of water bodies. Building construction activities that are carried out within the buffer zone of the

wetlands eliminate the ability of the wetlands to perform their ecological functions and there

must be measures in place to minimise potential hazards. This study investigates construction

activities on wetlands in the Kumasi Metropolis by examining strategies that can be used to

minimise potential hazards resulting from construction activities on wetlands in the Metropolis.

The objectives of the study are:

To examine strategies that can be used to minimise potential hazards construction

activities on wetlands in Kumasi.

To evaluate the efforts that can be adopted to manage, protect and conserve wetlands in

Kumasi.

Methodology

This sub-study which is part of a larger study was a cross-sectional survey that sought the

opinion of officers from organisations who are related to wetland management, protection and

conservation to find out some of the strategies that can be used to minimise potential hazards

resulting from building on wetlands and the efforts to protect and conserve wetlands in Kumasi.

The targeted population identified for the study was governmental and non-governmental

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organisations who are related to wetland management, protection and conservation in the

Kumasi metropolis. Respondents from these organisations were purposively sampled until a

sample size of 20 was obtained. Self-administered structured questionnaire was used.

The respondents were asked to rate their disagreement or agreement of the strategies that can be

used to minimise potential hazards resulting from building on wetlands and the efforts to protect

and conserve wetlands on a five-point Likert scale. The scale ranged from: strongly disagree (1)

to strongly agree (5). It had two items for respondents’ demographics. Content validity was

established by a panel of two construction experts; construct validity was ensured by critically

developing it within established theoretical framework. Cronbach’s alpha reliability tests for the

constructs were above the recommended 0.70 (Straub, Boudreau & Gefen, 2004), and a

composite reliability of all the 38 measurement items yielded a composite value of 0.924.

Therefore the scales could be considered reliable. The questionnaire was pretested using a

sample of 10 officers from eight governmental and non-governmental organisations who are

related to wetland management, protection and conservation. Finally it was administered to the

respondents through personal contact with the assistance of trained research assistants.

Results and Discussions

The background information were established to know the nature of organisations related to

wetland management, protection and conservation in Kumasi who participated in the study as

related to type of organisation area of operation. A summary of the background information of

the organisation is presented in Fig. 1 and Fig. 2.

Fig. 1 indicates that majority of the respondents were state organisations. This accounted

for 85% of the respondents whilst 15% were non-governmental organisations.

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85%

15% StateNGO

Fig. 1: Type of Organization(Source: Field Study, 2015)

Fig. 2 indicates that, majority of the organisations were operating at planning and management

level. This accounted for 65% of the respondents followed by education and sensitisation 40%

and protection and conservation 35%. Also, Monitoring and Evaluation recorded 30% whiles

Inventory and Mapping recorded the least of 20%.

Planning & Management

Protection & Conservation

Education & Sensitisation

Inventory & Mapping

Monitoring & Evaluation

010203040506070 65%

40%35%

20%30%

Fig. 2: Area of Operation(Source: Field Study, 2015)

Strategies of Minimising Hazards of Construction Activities on Wetlands

Table 1 presents the strategies that can be employed by city authorities to minimise

potential hazards of construction activities on wetlands in Kumasi. From table, 85% of the

respondents think that replacement of old drains can help minimise hazards of construction

activities on wetlands in Kumasi, whiles 10% disagreed and 5% was neutral. Also, all the

respondents representing 100% believe that demolishing of structures in waterways, can help

minimise hazards of construction activities on wetlands in Kumasi. Similarly, all the respondents

representing 100% believe that planting of shade trees along the streams and rivers, can help

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minimise hazards of construction activities on wetlands in Kumasi. In addition, 95% of the

respondents think that education campaigns can help minimise hazards of construction activities

on wetlands in Kumasi, whiles 5% neutral. Additionally, 90% of the respondents think that

clearing of choked drains, can help minimise hazards of construction activities on wetlands in

Kumasi whiles 5% disagreed and 5% was neutral. Also, all the respondents representing 100%

believe that proper waste management can help minimise hazards of construction activities on

wetlands in Kumasi. Again, 90% of the respondents think that resettlement on prosecuting

perpetrators of wetlands encroachment, can help minimise hazards of construction activities on

wetlands in Kumasi whiles 5% was neutral. Again, 90% of the respondents think that

resettlement of wetlands residents can help minimise hazards of construction activities on

wetlands in Kumasi whiles 10% disagreed. Finally, 90% of the respondents think that recycling

of waste can help minimise hazards of construction activities on wetlands in Kumasi whiles 5%

disagreed and 10% were neutral.

According to the results, all the factors were rank above 80% indicating highest level of

agreement to those factors as strategies of minimising hazards of construction activities on

wetlands. This support the report of Betey (2012) that, most people around wetlands believe that,

construction enough drains can help minimised the effects of construction activities on wetlands.

Also, Oppong (2012) opines that, most residents around the Aboabo River basin believe that

clearing of choked gutters can help minimise flooding which is one of the effects of construction

activities on wetlands.

Table 1

Strategies of Minimising Hazards of Construction Activities on Wetlands Strategies Very High

AttemptHigh

Attempt

Moderate

Attempt

Little Attemp

t

No Attempt

Replacement of old drains 45 40 5 10 0Demolishing of structures in waterways 90 10 0 0 0

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Planting of shade trees along the streams and rivers

95 5 0 0 0

Education campaigns 75 20 5 0 0Clearing of choked drains 80 10 5 5 0Proper waste management 80 20 0 0 0Prosecuting perpetrators of wetlands encroachment

75 20 5 0 0

Resettlement of wetlands residents 70 20 0 10 0Recycling of waste 55 30 10 5 0(Source: Field Study, 2015)

Efforts of Protecting, Conserving and Managing Wetlands in Kumasi

Table 2 presents the efforts that have been instituted by city authorities to manage, protect and

conserve wetlands in Kumasi. From table, all the respondents representing 100% believe that

demarcation of wetlands can help manage, protect, and conserve wetlands in Kumasi. Also,

90% of the respondents think that acquisition of wetlands from traditional leaders, can help

manage, protect, and conserve wetlands in Kumasi whiles 5% disagreed and 5% was neutral.

Again, all the respondents representing 100% believe that planting of new plant species can help

manage, protect, and conserve wetlands in Kumasi. In addition, all the respondents representing

100% believe that wetlands mapping can help manage, protect, and conserve wetlands in

Kumasi. Furthermore, all the respondents representing 100% believe that enforcement of

regulations and by-laws on wetlands can help manage, protect, and conserve wetlands in

Kumasi. Additionally, all the respondents representing 100% believe that retaining a buffer zone,

can help manage, protect, and conserve wetlands in Kumasi. Also, 95% of the respondents think

that classification of wetlands can help manage, protect, and conserve wetlands in Kumasi whiles

5% was neutral. Again, 95% of the respondents think that land holder education can help

manage, protect, and conserve wetlands in Kumasi whiles 5% was neutral. Also, 85% of the

respondents think that developing wetlands into recreation and tourist sites can help manage,

protect, and conserve wetlands in Kumasi whiles 15% was neutral. Finally, 80% of the

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respondents think that fencing of wetlands can help manage, protect, and conserve wetlands in

Kumasi whiles 5% disagreed and 15% were neutral.

The results shows that all the factors were rank above 80% indicating highest level of agreement

to those factors as a way of managing, protecting, and conserving wetlands in Kumasi.

According to Betey (2012), there should be responsible management of wetlands

and floods through the enforcement of land use plans, demolition of houses

on waterways and setting up public parks. Attuquayefio and Abdulai (2013) also

prepared an Environmental and Social Management Plan for KMA and recommended some

mitigation measures to the management of environmental impacts of construction activities.

Table 2

Efforts of Protecting, Conserving and Managing Wetlands Effort Very High

EffortHigh Effor

t

Moderate Effort

Little Effort

No Effor

tDemarcation of wetlands 65 35 0 0 0Acquisition of wetlands from traditional leaders 75 15 5 5 0Planting of new plant species 75 25 0 0 0Wetlands mapping 85 15 0 0 0Wetlands inventory 90 10 0 0 0Enforcement of regulations and by-laws on wetlands

80 20 0 0 0

Retaining a buffer zone 85 15 0 0 0Classification of wetlands 60 35 5 5 0Land holder education 70 25 5 0 0Developing wetlands into recreation and tourist sites

60 25 15 0 0

Fencing of wetlands 25 55 15 5 0(Source: Field Study, 2015)

Conclusion

Based on the major findings of study, it can be concluded that the various strategies discussed in

this study with no doubt can help minimise hazards of construction activities on wetlands in

Kumasi. It was also clear that, the efforts examined can be adopted to manage, protect, and

conserve wetlands in Kumasi. It is therefore necessary for city authorities to adopt these

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strategies and efforts in the metropolis since construction activities are on ascendency due to

population growth and urbanisation.

Recommendation

It is recommended that city authorities must device pragmatic measures of implementing these

strategies and efforts. This will help minimise the effects of construction activities on wetlands.

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