The National Disaster Management Organization (NADMO) has urged people near the White and Black Volta Lakes to migrate to higher ground as authorities from SONABEL Energy, the managers of Bagre Dam in neighboring Burkina Faso, initiate dam spillage today.
This contradicts an earlier announcement that the dam would leak on Wednesday, August 27, 2025.
According to a report obtained by Ghana’s disaster management group, the decision was made in response to a sudden rise in water levels that exceeded earlier forecasts.
In a statement, NADMO’s Northern Regional Director, Alhaji Haruna Abukari Malba, said, “Following a report received from our development partners in Burkina Faso (SONABEL ENERGY) about the spillage of the Bagre Dam on Monday, 25th August, 2025, we hereby wish to announce for the general public’s information to be on the alert and move to higher ground.”
“This flood alert, therefore, is to inform the general public and the Communities along the White and Black Volta Lakes, as well as our development partners, to be on the alert and to get all the Communities who may be at risk to move to higher ground, since the rivers will overflow their banks and some farms along the rivers will be flooded,” he added.
The leakage is large since the current Bagre Dam level as of Saturday, August 23, 2025, was 234.27m, with a filling rate of 90.24%, compared to the maximum spilling level of 235 meters.
According to the SONABEL report, the water level in the Bagre Dam appears to be rising fast, with the valves set to open on Monday, August 25th, 2025.
Alhaji Haruna stated that the major goal of the alert is to ensure no loss of life or property for communities around the Black and White Volta lakes, as well as to mitigate the impact on livelihoods.
“Also the natural habitat of reptiles will be disturbed, and people should be careful along the rivers as the risk of snake bites is high during this period. The reptiles will also be struggling for survival as they will move upland, on debris, and on top of trees along the rivers,” he reiterated.
Source: newsthemegh.com