Bui: Mr. Kow Eduakwa Sam, the Chief Executive Officer of the Bui Power Authority (BPA), managers of the Bui Generating Station (BGS), has reaffirmed the Authority's commitment to generating energy from clean and sustainable sources. He said, "Our energy portfolio which includes a 404MW Hydroelectric Plant, a 50MW Solar PV Plant, a 5MW Floating Solar Plant, and close to 200MW of Solar PV projects currently under construction reflects our commitment to safeguard the environment."
According to Ghana News Agency, Mr. Sam gave the assurance when he led school children, engineers, and personnel of the BGS in a tree planting exercise around the Bui Dam enclave to mark the government's 'Tree for Life' (T4L) initiative at Bui in the Banda District of the Bono Region. He stated that the Authority remained committed to protecting and sustaining the environment, saying that this commitment necessitated the launching of the Authority's Forest Resource Enhancement Programme (FREP) in 2012 by the then CEO, Ing. Jabesh Amissah-Arthur. The initiative focuses on reforestation and the protection of natural forests within the Bui enclave and associated ecosystem.
Mr. Sam emphasized that the FREP has been sustained to date, by subsequent CEOs and the Management of BPA. Through collective efforts with the Forestry Commission, the Game and Wildlife Department, and traditional leaders, the Authority continues to improve on afforestation, lakeshore protection, and community engagement. "We take pride in the fact that our environmental stewardship complements our energy mission, because this is not just about planting trees-it's about climate action, food security, water conservation, and creating a lasting legacy for future generations," he stated.
As leaders in renewable energy, Mr. Sam emphasized that the Authority remained committed to working with all stakeholders to ensure that sustainability becomes not just a policy, but a daily practice, reaffirming the Authority's unwavering support for the T4L initiative.
Mr. Kwadwo Nyamekye-Marfo, the Board Chairman of the BPA, described the government's T4L initiative as laudable, saying that it reaffirmed "our national resolve to heal, preserve, and regenerate Ghana's landscapes for future generations." He added that the tree planting exercise clearly reflected the vision, strategy, and urgency behind the shared commitment to environmental stewardship.
Mr. Nyamekye-Marfo remarked that the Authority's flagship programmes like the FREP and the Zero-Bushfire Campaign illustrated that the BPA was not only fulfilling its energy mandate but also emerging as a leader in sustainable development and ecological restoration. He acknowledged the immense contributions of stakeholders, including the Banda District Assembly, Forestry Commission, Ghana National Fire Service, and the Ghana Armed Forces towards enhancing the FREP and environmental sustainability in the enclave.
Mr. Peter Dongi, the Banda District Chief Executive, expressed concern about the growing illegal mining activities in the district, which threatened the existence of the Bui Dam and called for concerted efforts to stem the bad practice.
Mr. Emmanuel Antwi, the Deputy Bono Regional Manager of the Forestry Commission, said the T4L initiative was to help restore degraded landscapes both in forest and off-reserve areas throughout the country. This fits into the global celebration of the International Day of the Forest set by the UN General Assembly in 2012. He appreciated immensely, the significant contributions of the BPA towards the sustenance of the environment and urged the personnel of the Authority and the people in the Bui Dam enclave to help nurture the trees for the nation to derive the optimum benefit.
