AFRICOM-Ghana President Raises Concerns Over Burkina Faso Dam Spillages
The President of the United States Africa Command-Ghana (AFRICOM-Ghana), Mr. Abednego Orstin Rawlings, has called on the authorities of Burkina Faso to urgently address the annual spillages from the Bagre Dam, which he says continue to cause devastating flooding in parts of northern Ghana.
According to Mr. Rawlings, the recurring spillages have resulted in the destruction of farmlands, loss of livestock, damage to property and, in some instances, loss of human lives in affected communities across northern Ghana.
He appealed to international organisations, including the United Nations, the European Union, International Court of Justice and other relevant global institutions, to encourage Burkina Faso to adopt measures that would minimise the impact of the dam spillages on downstream communities in Ghana.
Mr. Rawlings stressed that Ghana possesses fertile agricultural lands capable of supporting large-scale cultivation of crops such as tomatoes, onions, ginger and grains, and therefore efforts must be made to protect farmers and agricultural production in flood-prone areas.
He also called on President John Dramani Mahama and Vice President Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang to engage Burkina Faso on finding sustainable solutions to the annual flooding situation.
Commenting on regional diplomacy, Mr. Rawlings criticised the Economic Community of West African States (ECOWAS) and the African Union (AU), arguing that the regional bodies must play stronger roles in resolving cross-border issues affecting member states.
He further linked the spillages and water management challenges to broader concerns about the operations of the Akosombo Hydro-Electric Dam, claiming that changing water flows within the region have affected Ghana’s power generation capacity over the years.
Mr. Rawlings also expressed concern over recent tensions between Ghana and Burkina Faso, including the killing of some Ghanaian tomato traders in Burkina Faso, which he said required stronger diplomatic engagement between the two countries.
Additionally, he urged the Government of Ghana to strengthen border security and intensify efforts to combat arms smuggling and other cross-border crimes, particularly in conflict-prone areas.
He appealed to Ghanaian authorities to prioritise national interests and the protection of citizens while pursuing peaceful and constructive relations with neighbouring countries.
