Authorities in Ghana’s Northern region say they are on standby as water levels at Burkina Faso’s Bagre Dam remain below the threshold for spillage.

The National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) says communities along the White Volta Basin have, however, been placed on alert following notification from Burkina Faso about a possible release of water from the dam.

Chief Disaster Control Officer at NADMO, Mr Idresu Abdubakari Ziblim, said Burkina Faso’s electricity company, SONABEL, initially notified Ghana of its intention to spill the dam on Monday, August 11, 2026.

According to him, the decision was subsequently put on hold because of relatively low rainfall recorded upstream.

“We received information from our partners from Burkina Faso, that is SONABEL, of their intention to spill the Bagre Dam on the 11th of August 2026, that is today. But due to the low rainfall they also recorded upstream, the Kompienga Dam is feeding the Bagre Dam, but the Bagre Dam is not yet full to its capacity,” he said.

Mr Ziblim explained that the water level at the dam stood at 233.08 metres as of Sunday, August 10, while the threshold for spillage is 234.15 metres.

He said the level remained unchanged as of Monday, meaning the dam was still 1.92 metres below the spillage threshold.

“As at now, just today 11th August 2026, we just received a message from them that the water level is still the same at 233.08. That is the shortfall of 1.92. So as at now, they have not yet spilled the dam,” he said.

68 communities alerted

Despite the dam not yet reaching the spillage level, NADMO says it has activated precautionary measures in four districts considered most vulnerable to flooding.

These are Tolon, Kumbungu, Savelugu Municipal and Karaga Municipal.

Mr Ziblim said Kumbungu has 15 communities along the basin, Tolon has 17, Savelugu has 21 and Karaga has 15, bringing the total number of communities on alert to 68.

He said residents have been informed through local radio stations, community engagements and disaster volunteers, with district staff working alongside the Information Services Department and the various Metropolitan, Municipal and District Assemblies.

Additional alerts have been issued through churches, mosques and the Northern Regional Disaster Management Platform.

Emergency teams on standby

NADMO says emergency response teams are also being positioned to respond quickly should flooding occur.

Mr Ziblim said a rapid response team from the 51st Regiment of the Ghana Armed Forces is being prepositioned at Walewale in the West Mamprusi area.

The team, he said, has outboard motors to help access communities that may become cut off by floodwaters.

Safe havens have also been identified in schools, churches and mosques, while the Ghana Red Cross and Ghana National Fire Service have been placed on standby.

Health preparations intensified

Authorities are also preparing for possible health emergencies that could accompany flooding.

Mr Ziblim said the Ghana Health Service has been alerted to replenish anti-snake venom and other medical supplies, citing the increased risk of snake and scorpion bites during floods.

“We have alerted the Ghana Health Service to make sure that they quickly replenish anti-snakebites,” he said.

He added that cholera and other waterborne diseases were also a major concern because flooding could contaminate wells and latrines.

NADMO has therefore distributed Aquatabs donated by World Vision to help residents disinfect drinking water.

“Most of the wells within those areas and latrines are going to be inundated, and they may get into their drinking waters,” Mr Ziblim said.

NADMO has also previously prepositioned relief items at the Tamale International Airport to enable the Ghana Air Force to quickly airlift supplies to communities cut off by floods.

NADMO recalls past Bagre Dam disasters

Mr Ziblim said the current preparations were informed by lessons from the 1997 and 1998 floods, when unexpected spillage from the dam resulted in 20 deaths.

He appealed to the Burkina Faso authorities to ensure that any release of water is controlled.

“If they open one or two, it will be controlledly managed by us, both in the Upper West, Upper East, North East, and the Northern regions, as well as the Savanna regions also,” he said.

Farmers, herders advised to move to higher ground

NADMO has also urged farmers and livestock owners operating along the White Volta Basin to take precautionary measures.

Mr Ziblim advised nomadic cattle rearers to move their animals to higher ground, while farmers with mature crops were encouraged to harvest them where possible.

“We advise the farmers, especially the nomadic livestock cattle rearers, to make sure that they always move uphill with their animals,” he said.

He also urged farmers whose crops are mature to harvest them, while those with immature crops should prioritise their safety and move to higher ground.

Mr Ziblim said Ghana recorded no casualties from last year’s flooding because of joint monitoring and assessment by relevant stakeholders.

Authorities are therefore urging residents in vulnerable communities to remain vigilant and follow official instructions as monitoring of the Bagre Dam continues.