The Upper East Regional Director of the National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO), Madam Rebecca Ashamawu Akolgo, has urged residents along the banks of the Black and White Volta Rivers to relocate to higher ground as authorities prepare for the spillage of the Bagre and Kupeinga Dams.
Speaking during a community engagement at Galaka in the Bawku West District, where the two rivers converge, Madam Akolgo cautioned that the anticipated spillage could inundate areas up to two miles from the riverbanks, posing severe risks to households and farmlands.
She confirmed that NADMO has been receiving daily updates from Burkinabe officials and noted that the Bagre Dam was expected to spill on Monday, August 25, following rising water levels.
“The spillover could cover about two miles from the riverbanks, and residents within that zone risk being severely affected,” she warned, urging farmers and families in flood-prone areas to evacuate without delay.
Reports indicate that farmlands in Burkina Faso have already been destroyed by the overflow, displacing many, with the floodwaters expected to impact several communities in Ghana.
Bawku West District Chief Executive, James Ayamwego, also appealed to residents to prioritize safety over property. “I understand the huge investments you’ve made in your farms, but your lives are far more important. The government will support you in the aftermath,” he assured.
He also called on stakeholders, including chiefs, elders, and assembly members, to reinforce the relocation advice.
Chiefs from the affected communities pledged to support NADMO’s sensitisation efforts but appealed for fair distribution of relief items. The Chief of Sapeliga, Naba Alasbuudi Emmanuel Abangiba Ayagiba II, expressed frustration over repeated losses without adequate compensation.
