Brong-Ahafo chiefs laud government for Bui Dam construction
Members of the Brong-Ahafo Regional House of Chiefs (BARHC) have stated that the construction of the Bui Hydroelectric Project would be a blessing for the Chiefs and people of the region.
They therefore lauded government for its construction and near completion, stating that when fully operational, the project would not just be economically and socially beneficial for Ghanaians in general but residents of Brong-Ahafo in particular.
A cross-section of the Chiefs, led by the President of the House, Pemampem Yaw Kagbrese V, Paramount Chief of Yeji were speaking to the media about their impressions of the project after a one-day familiarization tour of the project site at Bui in the Banda District of Brong-Ahafo on Friday.
The tour was to see at first hand the project to enable them to inform their people about its prospects for the socio-economic development of the Region.
Pemampem Kagbrese, described the architectural design of the project as “very wonderful”, saying that, it would be “highly beneficial” to the Region and the country as whole.
He condemned the menace of illegal mining (popularly called galamsey) and advised Ghanaians to assist the government task and the security agencies to stop the practice for sanity to prevail in the small scale mining industry.
Pemampem Kagbrese urged Chiefs not to condone such illegalities because of economic gains to the detriment of the larger society but must see it as their duties to prevent that by reporting the “galamsey operators to the law enforcement agencies.
Nana Bofo Bene IV, Paramount Chief of Dwenem-Awasu and vice-President of the house said “the entire project is very laudable because we learnt of its proposal decades ago in school but never saw the reality of it until now”.
He noted that Brong-Ahafo would derive immense benefits from the construction of the dam because it would enhance electricity power supply to the Region and the stability of its consumption.
Nana Bene observed that Brong-Ahafo had industrially not developed, so the project would be a central-wheel to accelerate industrialization to generate employment to the unemployed youth and generations yet unborn in the region.
Nana Abenaa Boatemaa I, Paramount Queen of Odumase Number One observed that residents of the settler farming communities in the area who had now been resettled in descent- houses by the Bui Power Authority (BPA) “are the first beneficiaries of the project” among all Ghanaians.
Nana Boatemaa, who is also the President of the Brong-Ahafo Paramount Queens Association commended the BPA for providing schools, clinic, community centre, recreational grounds and markets, among others, as part of the resettlement plan.
Nana Osei Kofi Abiri, Paramount Chief of Kenyase Number One said the project “is an impressive landmark” and that it would open wider doors of socio-economic opportunities for a number of Ghanaians in its catchment area.
“This is because mechanized agriculture and other opportunities in the fishing industry that would arise as a result of the creation of a lake behind the dam would create jobs for many Ghanaians”, Nana Abiri indicated.
Nana Kwasi Bosomprah I, Paramount Chief of Goaso said “it is pleasant to see that the project has become a reality and Ghanaians must pray for its successful completion and inauguration”.
Mr. Gabriel Apatu, External Relations Assistant of the BPA earlier in a slide presentation educated the chiefs including representatives of some paramount chiefs who could not make the trip and the staff of the house of chiefs as well as the media about the background and the entire nature of the project.
Mr. Apatu later guided the chiefs and the entourage on their tour of the project site and the resettlement area.
Source: GNA