Bagre Dam spillage: 68 communities in Northern region alerted as Burkina Faso monitors water levels

Authorities in Ghana's Northern region are on standby as water levels at Burkina Faso's Bagre Dam remain below the threshold for spillage. The National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) has placed communities along the White Volta Basin on alert following notification from Burkina Faso about a possible release of water from the dam. Mr. Idresu Abdubakari Ziblim, Chief Disaster Control Officer at NADMO, stated that Burkina Faso's electricity company, SONABEL, initially notified Ghana of its intention to spill the dam on Monday, August 11, 2026. This decision was subsequently put on hold due to relatively low rainfall recorded upstream.

Mr. Ziblim explained that the water level at the dam was 233.08 metres as of Sunday, August 10, while the threshold for spillage is 234.15 metres. The level remained unchanged as of Monday, meaning the dam was still 1.92 metres below the spillage threshold. 68 communities have been alerted, and NADMO has activated precautionary measures in four districts: Tolon, Kumbungu, Savelugu Municipal, and Karaga Municipal.