NADMO Refutes Claims of Bagre Dam Spillage Causing Farmer’s Death in Yama

Yama: The National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) has refuted media reports linking the tragic death of Mr. Baba Takora, a 55-year-old farmer in Yama community, in the West Mamprusi Municipality, to the spillage of the Bagre Dam. According to Ghana News Agency, the incident was unrelated to the discharge of water from Burkina Faso. A statement issued by NADMO explained that on August 25, 2025, Mr. Takora had invited community members to assist him in harvesting his maize farm located along the White Volta. During this process, he went to a nearby tributary of the river to fetch water with a container popularly known as a 'Kufour Gallon' for his helpers, where he accidentally drowned as he was unaware of the depth of the tributary. The statement noted that at the time of the incident in the evening, the discharges from the dam had not yet reached the Ghanaian river bodies. It takes about 24 hours for the waters released from the Bagre Dam in Burkina Faso to reach Yarigu station, where the water l evel is monitored and measured by the Water Resources Commission and shared with NADMO. Therefore, the incident cannot be attributed to the Bagre Dam spillage. On August 25, the discharge rate of the Bagre Dam was 47.34 m3/s, which was not enough to cause a rise in the water bodies. The rise in the White Volta and its tributaries observed around that period was due to local rainfall and not from the Bagre Dam spillage. The statement stressed that Mr. Takora, who left behind his wife Madam Sala Baba and five children, met his untimely death while engaging in farming activity and not as a result of any spillage-related flooding. Management of NADMO expressed its deepest condolences to the bereaved family and the Yama community. NADMO urged all media houses to verify information with appropriate authorities before publication to avoid spreading misinformation that might cause unnecessary public alarm. While this unfortunate incident was unrelated to the Bagre Dam spillage, NADMO, in collaboration with stakehol ders, continued to monitor the water level across the river bodies for possible flooding. It said communities were being kept informed, and preparedness measures, including identification of safe haven, evacuation planning, and public sensitisation, were in place to ensure the safety of lives and property during the Bagre Dam spillage. The statement advised community members, especially farmers, to exercise extreme caution around water bodies and tributaries, as water depths could vary significantly and pose drowning risks. NADMO reassured the public that it remains fully committed and ready to respond effectively to any emergencies that may occur as a result of the Bagre Dam spillage.