Ghana’s disaster management and water agencies have stepped up emergency measures as the annual spillage of the Bagre and Kompienga Dams in Burkina Faso is set to begin earlier than expected, on Monday, August 25, 2025.
The Water Resources Commission (WRC) confirmed that the Bagre Dam had reached 90.24% of its capacity (234.27 metres, just 0.73m below the maximum retention level), while the Kompienga Dam stood at 79.36% full. The rising water levels prompted SONABEL, the Burkinabé power utility that manages the two dams, to move the spillage forward from the initially scheduled August 27.
In anticipation, the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) has activated its regional and district directorates in flood-prone areas of the Upper East and North East Regions. Mr. Christopher Beokena, Upper East Regional Deputy Director of NADMO, said officers have begun sensitisation campaigns.
“District directors are already on the ground advising farmers and residents. Some farmers have started early harvesting, even though their crops are not fully mature. We will monitor the situation and provide assistance where necessary,” he noted.
The Water Resources Commission has also issued safety advisories, urging communities along the White Volta and its tributaries to relocate to higher grounds. Mr. Jesse Kazapoe, Head of the White Volta Basin, explained that public education was ongoing to prevent loss of lives, though farmlands close to the river remain at high risk.
Beyond immediate safety concerns, stakeholders say long-term strategies are needed to reduce annual devastation. The Peasant Farmers Association of Ghana (PFAG) has renewed calls for buffer zones along water bodies. Mr. Isaac Pabia, PFAG’s Upper East Regional Focal Person, emphasised:
“The yearly flooding cannot continue unchecked. Farmers should avoid cultivating too close to riverbanks. Enforcing buffer zones will reduce the losses we experience year after year.”
Each year, the spillage causes widespread flooding downstream in Ghana, submerging thousands of hectares of rice, maize, millet, and vegetable farms, destroying property, killing livestock, and displacing families. With rivers already swollen from heavy rains, authorities warn this year’s spillage could be particularly destructive if preventive measures are not heeded.
