The excess water from the Bagré Dam will now be spilled today, Monday, August 25, the Water Resources Commission has revealed.

The 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 power-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, announcing a change in schedule, the Commission explained that the decision was due to a sudden rise in the Bagré 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.

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

Water spillages

In May last year, Ghana Water Limited (GWL) cautioned 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, warned residents in likely affected communities to move immediately.

A statement from the water supply company, issued on Friday, May 23, indicated 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 also directed all residents in the flagged zones to move to higher ground 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 further advised residents to secure valuables and disconnect electrical appliances.

Additionally, the company 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.

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

One of the major flooding incidents linked to spillage occurred at the Akosombo Dam in 2023.

The flood, which began in mid-September 2023 and lasted over six weeks, displaced approximately 38,624 residents and devastated 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 allocated GH¢220 million as support for victims.

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

The committee tasked with investigating the 2023 Akosombo Dam spillage concluded its probe with a report highlighting 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 primary cause of the spillage was to protect the dam from destruction, the committee strongly criticised the inadequate emergency response mechanisms that followed.

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

Central to the 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.”

Other challenges included failed resettlement attempts, cultural resistance, and lack of proper 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 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 stronger stakeholder coordination, improved community engagement, and stricter land use regulations.

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