The controlled spillage of excess water from the Bagre Dam in Burkina Faso has commenced, with residents and farmers living downstream being urged to move to higher ground as a precautionary measure.
SONABEL, the company responsible for operating the dam, opened one of the dam’s valves at 9:53 a.m. on Friday, August 28, 2026, officially marking the start of the 2026 “spillway discharges.”
At the time the spillage began, the water level upstream of the dam stood at 234.79 metres, while the discharge rate was recorded at 47.72 cubic metres per second (m³/s).
Residents and farmers in downstream communities were notified ahead of the exercise and advised to relocate to safer and elevated areas to minimise the risk of flooding.
The development follows an earlier warning issued by Ghana’s Water Resources Commission (WRC) on August 5, 2026, regarding the possible controlled spillage of the Bagre Dam if water levels continued to rise.
In a press statement dated August 4, the WRC said it had received an update from SONABEL indicating that the reservoir’s water level had reached 232.93 metres as of August 4, representing 62.77 percent of the dam’s capacity.
According to the Commission, SONABEL was prepared to begin controlled spillage once the reservoir reached 234.00 metres, a measure designed to protect the dam and ensure its safe operation.
The WRC subsequently urged communities along the White Volta River and other flood-prone areas to remain alert and comply with safety instructions from their respective Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies (MMDAs) and other relevant state institutions.
The Commission has assured the public that it is closely monitoring the situation and will continue to provide updates as developments unfold.
By: Prince Martey-Sogar