"It is getting too hot lately": Urban households' knowledge, experiences and governance of extreme heat events in Accra, Ghana

Abstract

As climate change accelerates, extreme heat events have become one of the most pervasive and dangerous threats to urban populations worldwide, disproportionately affecting vulnerable communities. This study investigates household awareness, experiences, and governance responses to extreme heat in the Greater Accra Metropolitan Area, Ghana. A mixed-methods approach, involving household surveys (n = 413) and focus group discussions (n = 3), was used to assess three neighbourhoods: Dansoman, Osu, and Ashaley Botwe. The findings show high levels of awareness of extreme heat across all neighbourhoods, but Ashaley Botwe reported the greatest disruption to daily life, driven by rapid urbanisation and economic vulnerability. Health concerns, discomfort, and sleep disruptions emerged as the most common impacts. Further analyses revealed that age, generation group, and income significantly influenced household awareness and adaptive responses to extreme heat. Older residents and higher-income households were more likely to invest in cooling systems, while education positively correlated with increased awareness of extreme heat risks. Despite the clear recognition of extreme heat as a major issue, government-led strategies and local engagement in heat governance were found to be largely absent, highlighting a governance gap. This study highlights the necessity for targeted, community-specific climate resilience strategies that consider demographic and socio-economic vulnerabilities. The findings advocate for the integration of localized climate adaptation measures into urban planning frameworks to mitigate the adverse effects of extreme heat in fast-growing cities like Accra.