No death has been recorded following the release of water from the Bagre Dam in Burkina Faso, the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) has clarified.

A statement issued by the organisation dismissed reports that the spillage caused the death of 55-year-old Baba Takora from the Yama community. According to the reports, the farmer lost his life after drowning during the release of water from the dam.

However, NADMO emphasised that the farmer actually died on Tuesday, August 26, after drowning in a small river that flows into the White Volta while attempting to fetch water for labourers working on his maize farm.

“Contrary to media reports, his death was not caused by flooding from the Bagre Dam spillage. At the time of the incident, the dam’s discharges had not yet reached Ghanaian rivers. On the day of the incident, the dam’s discharge stood at 47.34 cubic metres per second—too low to influence water levels in local rivers. Any rises observed around that period were due to rainfall, not the dam spillage,” the statement added.

The Water Resources Commission had earlier announced that water from the Bagré Dam, a multipurpose facility on the White Volta located near Bagré Village in Burkina Faso, would be spilled from Wednesday, August 27, following updates on water levels from SONABEL, the electricity-producing company in Burkina Faso.

"The current water level of the Bagré Dam as of Friday, August 22, 2025 is 233.98 metres and the filling rate of the dam is 86.38%," the Commission revealed in a statement.

However, in a follow-up announcement, the Commission explained that the schedule was changed due to a sudden rise in the dam’s water level, which reached a filling capacity of 90.24 percent, with a recorded level of 234.27 metres as of August 23, 2025. Hence spillage began on Monday, August 25.

Communities along the White Volta River and adjoining areas were advised to take the necessary precautions and adhere to safety guidelines issued by local assemblies and relevant agencies.

A total of 95,823 residents have already evacuated from their communities due to the Bagre Dam water spillage. Speaking to JoyNews during an interview on Monday, August 25. Sakibu Buhari noted, “They have moved already, about 95,823 people along those communities have packed their things and moved.”

"They saw what happened to them last year, so that is why I say that education has gone down well," he added. On the issue of relief items, Buhari explained that special packages prepared for victims were yet to be received.

"This morning, we were expecting the things from Accra to come to the Northern Region so we move there together. When we get there, we will be able to see how best we can put our hands to support them. He, however, cautioned residents against ignoring evacuation orders. “If you refuse to move, anything that happens will be of your own consequences,” he warned.

Water spillages in Ghana

In May last year, Ghana Water Limited (GWL) warned residents of Weija and surrounding communities of a looming “disaster” if they failed to evacuate. The company began a controlled spillage of excess water from the Weija Dam and, to avert any crisis, advised residents in likely affected areas to relocate immediately.

A statement issued on Friday, May 23, explained that water levels at the dam had reached 45 feet, just two feet below its maximum operating level, due to the onset of the rainy season. “To safeguard the structural integrity of the dam and avert any potential disaster, minimal spillage has begun,” the statement said.

“The Management of GWL is, by this release, sounding a word of caution to inhabitants downstream to evacuate the area to forestall any eventuality.” Communities affected by the spillage included Tetegu, Oblogo, Pambros Salt, Lower McCarthy Hill, Lower Weija, Bojo Beach, Adakope, and surrounding areas.

GWL directed all residents in the flagged zones to move to higher ground and strictly adhere to safety instructions issued by NADMO and other relevant agencies.

The key directives included immediate evacuation to higher ground, avoiding low-lying areas, and staying away from flooded roads and bridges to prevent accidents. NADMO further advised residents to secure valuables and disconnect electrical appliances.

Additionally, GWL urged the Ga West Municipal Assembly to desilt the estuary and clear refuse along the river course to ensure free flow of water into the sea and minimise flooding risks.

“We kindly request that all affected residents remain cooperative and adhere to any safety instructions issued by the Municipal Assembly to ensure their safety and prevent any untoward incidents,” the statement added.

The company stressed that public cooperation was crucial to avoid a repeat of past flood disasters caused by dam overflows. Several previous spillages had resulted in the flooding of homes and destruction of property.

One of the major flood disasters linked to dam spillage occurred at the Akosombo Dam in 2023. That flood, which began in mid-September and lasted for over six weeks, displaced approximately 38,624 residents and destroyed properties, schools, health centres, and farmlands in communities such as North, Central, and South Tongu, Ada, and Kpong.

Nearly 1,247 homes, 94 schools, and 17 health facilities were destroyed, while agricultural losses were estimated at $78 million. The then government allocated GH¢220 million as support for victims.

However, it later emerged that the funds never reached those affected. Both the victims and the Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, threatened to take legal action against the government.

The committee tasked with investigating the 2023 Akosombo Dam spillage concluded its work with a report that highlighted how poor preparedness and weak communication by the Volta River Authority (VRA), NADMO, and local authorities worsened the disaster’s impact.

The five-member committee, inaugurated by President John Dramani Mahama, spent two months investigating the causes and response to the spillage and submitted its 110-page report to the Minister for Energy and Green Transition, John Abdulai Jinapor, on May 7.

While acknowledging that the spillage was necessary to protect the dam’s structural integrity, the committee strongly criticised the inadequate emergency response that followed.

It noted that although the VRA’s Emergency Preparedness Plan (EPP) had been shared with stakeholders and simulated in selected communities, political divisions among District Chief Executives (DCEs), Metropolitan Chief Executives (MCEs), and Members of Parliament (MPs) hindered effective communication and disrupted the implementation of relief efforts.

Central to the committee’s findings was the failure of coordination among key agencies. Moreover, the government’s overall response revealed worrying gaps.

“While there were efforts to provide immediate assistance, gaps in communication, resource allocation, and community engagement were identified,” the committee reported. It added that “operational challenges, such as a lack of local disaster preparedness plans and inadequate evacuation resources, hampered the emergency response process.”

Other challenges included failed resettlement attempts, cultural resistance, and poor consultation. “The people lament that their opinions were not sought in selecting the sites for the resettlement, and therefore, have refused to relocate and are requesting that the resettlement project be halted as the objective is not served,” the report stated.

The committee further noted widespread grievances from communities both upstream and downstream about inadequate compensation. “The affected people in these communities have not been adequately compensated for the devastating impact the floods had on their properties and source of livelihoods,” it noted.

To avert future disasters, the committee recommended urgent reforms, including stronger stakeholder coordination, better community engagement, and stricter land use regulations.

The incumbent government, under the leadership of President John Dramani Mahama, has since pledged to compensate the affected individuals.