Climate-Resilient Design for Urban Drainage Systems in Coastal Ghana

Urban drainage systems in coastal areas of Ghana are vulnerable to climate change impacts such as increased rainfall intensity and sea level rise. A hybrid approach combining hydrological modelling (using the SWAT model) and participatory design workshops was employed. Data from historical rainfall records and topography maps were used for calibration. The climate-resilient design incorporates a 20% increase in drainage capacity to accommodate projected higher peak flows, ensuring that at least 95% of urban areas remain dry during extreme events. This climate-resilient design approach successfully integrates hydrological and social aspects for sustainable urban development in coastal Ghana. The design should be implemented alongside community engagement programmes to ensure widespread acceptance and long-term maintenance. The maintenance outcome was modelled as $Y_{it}=\beta_0+\beta_1X_{it}+u_i+\varepsilon_{it}$, with robustness checked using heteroskedasticity-consistent errors.