Spillage from the Bagre Dam in Burkina Faso is expected to begin today, Tuesday, August 11, 2026, and will hit Ghana’s Upper East Region and other parts of northern Ghana between August 13 and 15, 2026.
Speaking exclusively to the Word Community Watch on August 11, 2026, Mrs. Rebecca Assibi Akolgo, the Upper East Regional Director of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), said the focus is on mitigation, preparedness, public safety, and effective coordination to reduce the impact on affected communities.
Mrs. Akolgo said NADMO has already deployed disaster volunteers, and zonal officers have begun public sensitisation, especially in communities along the downstream areas of the White Volta.
She advised residents along the White Volta to evacuate to higher grounds immediately for safety once the water begins to rise.She added that many farmers along the White Volta have also been sensitised to move their farming activities to higher grounds before and during the spillage, so they can return to their normal duties after the water subsides.According to her, when water comes at increasing speed, the risk of carrying people away is always high. She therefore urged farmers and residents to follow safety instructions strictly.
Mrs. Akolgo further noted that NADMO is collaborating with partner agencies to ensure the availability of secure safe havens, including temporary shelters, in case flooding occurs. She said monitoring is ongoing, and preparedness is being strengthened in vulnerable communities.
Mrs. Akolgo explained that during sensitisation, NADMO observed that many farmers have planted rice and maize, but due to rainfall patterns that affected early planting, a number of crops are not matured for harvest. This could increase losses for farmers when the floodwaters arrive.
She said Kalaka, a community in the Bawku West District, serves as an entry point where Bagre Dam spillage water enters Ghana and flows through areas including Yarigo, linking to Pwalungu in the Talensi District and other parts of the Nabdam District.She cautioned farmers not to attempt to go into the White Volta using canoes or any means to harvest their produce.
Mrs. Akolgo also stated that government has provided NADMO with some relief items to support farmers along the White Volta in case of any eventuality. However, she emphasised that while relief items can assist after the floods, they cannot replace lost lives hence the need for strong adherence to safety measures.
Speaking exclusively to Mr. Vincent Atinga, a farmer at Pwalungu in the Talensi District, he lamented that the Bagre Dam spillage usually destroys farms and leaves farmers struggling, adding that the yearly relief support does not fully match what farmers lose.
Mr. Atinga said this year’s rainfall did not start early as usual, and therefore the spillage may still affect farmers because the received rainfall is far from what they would normally need.
He appealed to government to commit to the construction of the Pwalungu Multi-Purpose Dam, saying that if the Pwalungu Multi-Purpose dam were constructed, the annual Bagre Dam spillage challenges would have been reduced for farmers.
He said they have not heard much progress about the project, and therefore they do not know what will happen next.
Mr. Atinga also said the construction of the Pwalungu Multi-Purpose Dam is their main concern because, once completed, dry-season farming would be possible.
He stressed that farmers should not depend only on the wet season, especially when rainfall patterns are unpredictable.
He warned that with rains starting late and not coming early enough this year, farmers are likely to suffer again, which could contribute to food shortages in Ghana since the White Volta supports farming activities across areas such as Bawku West, Nabdam, Talensi, and parts of northern Ghana.
Source:mywordfmonline.com/Gaspard Adongo Ayuureneeya.