Farmlands and livelihoods are at risk in the Upper East Region as ripple effects from the spillage of Bagre Dam in Burkina Faso begin to take a toll in the area.

The Dam's operators, Sonabel alerted Ghanaian authorities about the spillage last week.

Despite not being the usual annual spillage period, the overflow from tributaries to the Bagre Dam has already damaged farmlands along the Bawku West and Talensi Districts.

The Upper East Regional National Disaster Management Organisation Coordinator, Jerry Asamane has cautioned residents to stay away from their farms due to the uncertain water levels caused by the spillage.

“The farms are all flooded and these are crops that are closer. For instance corn, millet and tobacco plants are all affected.”

“But as it stands now, the depth of water on the farmland are so high that it is not even advisable for any person to get there.”

“Sensitization is going on for farmers not to go there because once the flood takes place, the habitat of reptiles including snakes, crocodiles are all also affected so they’re either floating on water or swimming, so when you get there, you can get a snake bite.”

“So, we have advised farmers not to go there until everything recedes,” he advised.

The spillage of the Bagre Dam from neighbouring Burkina Faso is done annually to prevent any breakage of the dam’s banks.

This exercise results in flooding in low-lying communities, destruction of crops, livestock and sometimes loss of lives in Burkina Faso and Ghana.

35 communities along the White Volta in the Bawku Municipality, Bawku West, Garu, Binduri, Nabdam and Talensi districts are the hard-hit areas.

Over the years, several homes, farmlands and properties have been destroyed by floods and rendered hundreds homeless.