In the northwest, the Black Volta forms the international borders of the Ivory Coast, Ghana, and Burkina Faso.

The Volta flows southward along the Akwapim-Togoland highlands, and empties into the Atlantic Ocean at the Gulf of Guinea at Ada Foah.

One of its smaller tributaries, the Oti River, enters Ghana from Togo in the east.

The dam's power plant generates electricity for the Volta River Authority, and the reservoir also provides water transport routes.

The Akwamu people who once built a kingdom on both the east and west banks of the river spanning present day Ghana, Togo and Benin call it Firaw.