The Water Resources Commission has announced that water from the Bagré Dam, a multipurpose dam on the White Volta located near Bagré Village in Burkina Faso, will be spilled from Wednesday, August 27.

The Commission informed stakeholders and the general public only after being updated on water levels of the Bagre Dam from the power-producing company, SONABEL 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.

Communities along the White Volta River and adjoining areas are advised to take the necessary precautions and adhere to safety guidelines from the local assemblies and the appropriate agencies.

Water spillages

In May last year, the Ghana Water Limited (GWL) cautioned residents of Weija and its surrounding communities of a looming "disaster" if they fail to evacuate.The company began a controlled spillage of excess water from the Weija Dam, and to avert any crisis, warned residents of communities likely to be affected to move immediately.

A statement from the water supply company issued on Friday, 23 May, revealed that water levels at the dam had reached 45 feet, just two feet shy of 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 also directed all residents in the flagged zone to move to higher grounds and strictly adhere to safety instructions issued by the National Disaster Management Organisation (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 also advised residents to secure valuables and turn off electrical appliances.

The company called on the Ga West Municipal Assembly to ensure that all the estuary is desilted and all refuse is cleared along the river course to ensure the free flow of water into the sea and minimize 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.

GWL stressed that public cooperation was crucial to prevent a repeat of past flood disasters caused by dam overflows. Several spillages of water from the dam in the past led to flooding of homes and destruction of properties.

Also, one of the major flooding incidents reported due to spillage of water had to do with the Akosombo dam in 2023.

The flood, which began mid-September 2023 and lasted over six weeks, displaced approximately 38,624 residents and wreaked havoc on 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 immediate past government had allocated GH¢220 million as a form of support to the victims.

However, it appeared that such funds never reached the victims, as they, and Member of Parliament for North Tongu, Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwa, threatened to drag the government to court.

The committee tasked to investigate the 2023 Akosombo Dam spillage concluded its probe with a report highlighting how poor preparedness and communication by the Volta River Authority (VRA), the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), and local authorities intensified the devastating impact of the disaster.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 the committee acknowledged that the primary cause of the spillage was to protect the dam from destruction, it strongly criticised the weak emergency response mechanisms that followed.It noted that the VRA’s Emergency Preparedness Plan (EPP), though technical and shared with stakeholders, suffered setbacks.“While VRA had socialised the document with all stakeholders and conducted a simulation exercise for some selected communities before the spill, high turnout and divisions amongst some District Chief Executives (DCEs)/Metropolitan Chief Executives (MCEs) and Members of Parliament (MPs) could have derailed clear communication lines for implementing the plan and distribution of relief items,” the report noted.Central to the committee’s findings was the failure of effective coordination among key agencies. Moreover, the response from government institutions 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.”According to the report, other challenges included failed resettlement attempts, cultural resistance, and lack of 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 said.The committee highlighted grievances from communities both upstream and downstream regarding 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 called for urgent reforms, including better stakeholder coordination, improved community engagement, and the implementation of stricter land use regulations. The incumbent government under the leadership of President John Mahama has pledged to compensate the affected individuals.