Bagre Dam Spillage Alert: NADMO Issues Urgent Warning to Communities at Risk to Relocate

Bagre Dam spillage – August 23, 2025: The National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) has sounded a strong warning to residents and farmers living along the Black Volta basin, urging them to evacuate as the Bagre Dam spillage is set to begin earlier than expected.

Authorities of SONABEL, the Burkinabé power company that manages the Bagre Dam, confirmed on Saturday that rising water levels have forced an early spillage. Originally planned for Wednesday, August 27, the water release will now begin on Monday, August 25, 2025.

Rising Water Levels Force Early Bagre Dam Spillage

According to SONABEL, the Bagre Dam currently stands at 234.27 meters, representing a 90.24% filling rate, just 0.73 meters below its maximum retention level. Similarly, the Kompienga Dam in Burkina Faso has reached 177.90 meters, representing 79.36% of its filling rate, and is only 2.10 meters away from its maximum retention point.

These critical water levels have compelled managers to announce the, a yearly occurrence that often has devastating consequences for communities downstream in Ghana.

Why NADMO is Urging Communities to Relocate Before the Bagre Dam Spillage

NADMO explained that the spillage, though routine, typically causes widespread flooding in the northern regions of Ghana, particularly along the Black Volta and its tributaries. The flooding often destroys homes, farmlands, and food crops, leaving thousands displaced and vulnerable.

Beyond property damage, past spillage events have led to tragic loss of lives through drowning, as well as increased cases of snakebites due to snakes being washed into human settlements. NADMO emphasized that the only way to avoid casualties this year is for communities in low-lying areas to move to safer grounds immediately.

“NADMO is calling on all communities in flood-prone zones to relocate before the spillage begins. The safety of residents is our utmost priority, and we urge people not to wait until the last minute,” the agency stressed.

Bagre Dam Spillage: The Annual Threat to Northern Ghana

The Bagre Dam spillage has become a recurring seasonal challenge for communities in Ghana’s Upper East, Upper West, Northern, and Savannah regions. Every year when Burkina Faso opens the floodgates of the Bagre Dam, thousands of families are forced to abandon their homes.

The Black Volta basin, which runs through these regions, swells rapidly, submerging villages, farmlands, schools, and roads. Farmers in particular bear the brunt of the spillage as large hectares of crops like maize, millet, rice, and vegetables are destroyed, undermining food security and livelihoods.

In 2022, NADMO reported that more than 30,000 people were displaced by the spillage and subsequent floods. In 2023, the numbers rose significantly, with dozens of deaths and massive losses to agriculture. This year, the early spillage raises fresh concerns that the impact may be even more severe.

Government and NADMO Preparedness Measures Ahead of the Bagre Dam Spillage

To minimize damage, NADMO has activated emergency response teams across the affected regions. Relief items including food, tents, blankets, and medical supplies are being pre-positioned in high-risk areas. District assemblies and traditional leaders have also been asked to cooperate fully in relocating residents.

The Ghana Meteorological Agency has already warned of heavy rainfall patterns in the coming weeks, which could worsen flooding once the Bagre Dam gates are opened. NADMO stressed that this double risk makes evacuation non-negotiable.

Security agencies including the Ghana Police Service and the Ghana National Fire Service are expected to support relocation efforts, rescue operations, and the management of temporary shelters for displaced persons.

Communities Most at Risk from the Bagre Dam Spillage

The communities most exposed to the Bagre Dam spillage include:

Villages along the White Volta and Black Volta rivers

Low-lying communities in Bawku, Bolgatanga, and surrounding districts in the Upper East Region

Settlements near Wa and Tumu in the Upper West Region

Communities around Yapei, Daboya, and Central Gonja in the Savannah Region


Residents in these areas have been urged to comply swiftly with evacuation directives to avoid tragedies. NADMO has appealed to community leaders, chiefs, and opinion leaders to help mobilize people for early relocation.

A Call to Action: Saving Lives Before Disaster Strikes

The Bagre Dam spillage is a stark reminder of how climate change, cross-border water management, and human settlement patterns continue to pose serious threats to northern Ghana. While the spillage itself cannot be stopped, the human and economic cost can be reduced if people take NADMO’s warnings seriously.

Every year, Ghana spends millions of cedis providing relief and rebuilding after floods, but prevention remains the most effective strategy. NADMO believes that timely relocation and early preparedness are the best ways to save lives and property this year.

As the Monday spillage approaches, communities are being urged to put safety first. The message from NADMO is clear: do not wait until the water arrives before moving to higher ground.

Conclusion

With the Bagre Dam nearing full capacity, the early spillage set for August 25, 2025, poses a real danger to thousands of families in northern Ghana. NADMO’s urgent warning is both a call for immediate action and a reminder that preparedness is the only safeguard against disaster. Communities that heed the warning to relocate stand a better chance of surviving the annual floods with minimal losses.

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