[REVISION HISTORY]

Bagre Dam spillage risk increases for northern Ghana

Updated 2 times since CLSTR started tracking revisions of this situation.

What changed

2026-08-26 21:28 UTC → 2026-08-28 05:18 UTC · added ~~removed~~

In early August 2026, Burkina Faso completed a three-month rehabilitation of the Kokologho Dam, raising its storage to over 806,000 cubic metres to support a 25-hectare irrigation scheme for crops and aquaculture. Concurrently, concerns grew regarding the Bagre Dam. While initial warnings suggested a controlled spillage might begin on 11 August if levels reached 234 metres, the situation has escalated. By late August, the electricity utility SONABEL indicated it was considering opening the spillway gates as early as 28 August 2026, as the reservoir reached 234.55 metres—approximately 93.98% capacity. On 28 August 2026, SONABEL officially announced the emergency opening of the Bagre Dam flood-release gates, scheduled to begin at 9:00 a.m. The decision was necessitated by heavy rainfall that pushed water levels to a critical threshold, requiring the evacuation of excess water to protect the dam’s structural integrity. While water levels in the Kubore stretch of Ghana were initially observed to be relatively low, the spillage is expected to significantly increase water levels downstream along the White Volta. Ghana’s National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) has warned that such releases could flood the White Volta basin in the North East Region. Officials noted that floodwaters typically take 48 to 72 hours to reach Ghana. The primary risk involves the loss of riverbank crops, including maize, rice, millet, and vegetables. Authorities have urged farmers, fishermen, and herders to relocate to safer areas and prioritize personal safety over the protection of farm produce.

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