ABSTRACT

Flooding is undoubtedly one of the global natural disasters with the most debilitating effects on both humans and other living things alike. It is the leading and most frequent cause of natural disaster fatalities worldwide. It has become such a global concern that both developed and developing countries give maximum attention to it in finding ways of minimizing, if not preventing, its effects. The objective of this study is not to describe the impact of flood events on human populations in terms of mortality, injury and displacement but to look at the extent to which the media give prominence to stories of flooding in the capital of Ghana and the angling of the reportage on this natural disaster. The period between 2014 and 2015 has been full of several flooding disasters in Accra with unforgettable loss of lives and property. It was expected of the print media especially to give comprehensive coverage of these occurrences in order to give valuable information about prevention, recovery and mitigation. The focus is on two print media in Ghana; the Daily Graphic and the Daily Guide.

The study found out that most of the stories on flooding focused on the loss of human lives and properties. Other aspects of flooding that were highlighted in the newspaper articles include ordeals and challenge of flood victims, effects of flooding on human lives and donations to flood victims. The study further found that nearly 60% of flood stories were placed on the front, centre and back pages of the two newspapers indicating that the two attached prominence to the phenomenon. Findings from the work also suggested that there were no real significant differences between the coverage of Daily Guide and Daily Graphic on the subject. The study concluded by suggesting that journalists must desist from unnecessary sensationalisation of flood-related stories. Rather, they should attach a great deal of professionalism to their reportage.

CHAPTER ONE INTRODUCTION

Flooding can be explained as a significant rise of water level in a stream, lake, reservoir or coastal region. More colloquially, one can say flooding is the presence of water in areas that are usually dry. For the purpose of this study, flooding includes any inter-related phenomena such as hurricane, cyclone and attendant consequences such as fire, drainage and displacement. There are diverse and interrelated factors that account for flood events. Apart from weather factors such as heavy or sustained precipitation or storm surges from cyclones, important human factors are also implicated. These human factors include structural failures of dams and inadequate drainage systems. Particularly in third world countries, building in waterways is a common cause of the disaster. Patterns of land use and massive increases in population growth are potential precipitators of vulnerability to flooding as a natural phenomenon. When flooding occurs, there is mortality as well as indirect and direct displacement of people. Even though the immediate causes of death in floods include drowning and trauma or injury, the accompanying infectious diseases that follow over time are very deadly. The risks posed by future flood events are significant given population growth, proximities of populations to coastlines, expanded development of coastal areas and flood plains, environmental degradation and climate change.

In a report by the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) in 2010, it is suggested that although Ghana is vulnerable to disasters, the dominant one that has cost the nation in recent years is flooding. For instance, a heavy rain in Accra in October, 2011 flooded

many suburbs of the city culminating in massive destruction. The impact of this disaster was huge. Prior to that, the devastating flooding in June, 2010 in Ashaiman swept away properties worth millions of Ghana cedis (Osei, 2013).

Due to the level of catastrophic effects of flooding, it is not enough to devise strategies to minimize these effects or attempt to prevent them without analyzing how the phenomenon is covered by the media in terms of its effects and level of education on the risks posed by it. Given the fact that people turn to heed to and assimilate information that comes through mediated channels, the importance of the role of the media in covering this phenomenon cannot be underestimated. Luhmann (2001) argued that the media serve as the public’s primary introduction to risk. Environmental risks, such as the impact of flooding, are especially more likely to be discovered through a mediated channel than any other source. More importantly, since early signs of the disaster are appropriate warnings that keep people conscious of the dangers of flooding, it is worthwhile to be abreast of these signs through mass media education before and after the disaster. This is particularly the reason why the media’s role becomes very critical.

How the print media cover the phenomenon of flooding in Accra, the capital of Ghana, and the pre-flooding, flooding and post-flooding education by the print media will form the basis of this research with focus on two print media selected on the basis of ownership, circulation and readership.