Omanghana
The Water Resources Commission has alerted communities along the White Volta River to prepare for a possible controlled release of water from the Bagre Dam in Burkina Faso beginning Tuesday, August 11, 2026.
The advance warning is intended to give residents, district assemblies and disaster-management agencies sufficient time to prepare for potential flooding in downstream areas of northern Ghana.
According to the WRC, Burkina Faso’s power utility, SONABEL, will open the dam’s spillways only if the reservoir reaches its maximum operating level of 234 metros.
As of August 4, the water level stood at 232.93 meters, representing a filling rate of 62.77 per cent. The reservoir was therefore 1.07 meters below the level that would trigger a controlled release.
The commission stressed that the proposed spillage remains conditional and will depend on rainfall, upstream inflows and changes in the reservoir level over the coming days. Residents have nevertheless been encouraged to treat the warning seriously and begin taking precautionary measures.
People living in low-lying and flood-prone communities along the White Volta and its adjoining plains have been advised to identify safe evacuation routes and prepare to move to higher ground if necessary.
Farmers operating close to riverbanks should also monitor official announcements and take reasonable steps to protect livestock, equipment and mature crops. Residents must avoid crossing swollen rivers or attempting to travel through flooded roads once water levels begin rising.
The WRC further urged communities to comply with safety instructions from Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies, the National Disaster Management Organization and other emergency-response agencies.
Controlled releases from the Bagre Dam have historically contributed to flooding in parts of the Upper East, North East, Northern and Savannah regions, particularly when they coincide with heavy rainfall in Ghana. Previous incidents have displaced residents and destroyed homes, livestock and large areas of farmland.
Authorities will continue monitoring the reservoir and are expected to provide further information if the water level approaches the 234-metre threshold.
Source: Omanghana
