Nawuni River Swells As NADMO Warns Of Rising Flood Risk In Northern Region

The National Disaster Management Organisation (NADMO) has urged residents in and around Nawuni in the Kumbungu District of Ghana’s Northern Region to prepare for possible flooding after water levels at the Nawuni intake rose sharply.

A reading taken by NADMO on Saturday, 23 August 2026, showed the water level at 23.85 feet, placing it within the critical flood range of 20 to 30 feet. Officials warn that the elevated level raises the risk of the White Volta overflowing its banks and inundating nearby communities and farmlands, especially if further rainfall occurs.

Chief Disaster Control Officer Iddrisu Abubakari Ziblim told JoyNews that NADMO is closely monitoring the situation, including local rainfall patterns, ahead of any potential upstream release from Burkina Faso.

“For now, the situation is okay,” he said, while cautioning that spillage from the Bagre Dam, operated by Burkina Faso’s SONABEL, could significantly worsen the threat.

Any such release would be communicated in advance, with floodwaters expected to reach the Northern Region within about seven days.

NADMO has maintained continuous pre-flood monitoring and public sensitisation since August 4, following an initial alert from SONABEL relayed through the Water Resources Commission. 

As a preparedness measure, a Rapid Response Team has been pre-positioned in Walewale in the North East Region to support emergency response and evacuation if conditions deteriorate.

The agency continues to advise residents in vulnerable communities to remain alert and follow official instructions as monitoring of water levels proceeds.