The chiefs around the Bui Generating Station (BGS) enclave in the Banda District of the Bono has commended the Bui Power Authority (BPA), the managers of the Station for executing its Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR), enhancing the livelihoods of the people.
They pleaded with the Authority to remain innovative and do more and implemented socio-economic interventions that would bring remarkable improvements on the lives of the rural dwellers.
"We are really grateful to the BPA for honouring its CSR programmes within the enclave," Nana Kwadwo Wuo II, the Chief of Bui stated, during the inauguration of 45 Megawatts (MW) solar projects constructed by the BPA to add to the nation's renewable energy mix.
The project has a 40MW land-based solar plant and five megawatts floating solar farm, constructed on the Bui Dam Reservoir, which is the first of its kind and the largest in Africa. Nana Wuo II assured the people's unflinching support and cooperation, pledging to complement the Authority's efforts towards protecting the dam and water bodies as well as the environment.
The chief said he was highly optimistic that with its commitment and efforts, the BPA would also do more to enable the country to attain the 10 percent target in the solar and wind mix by 2030.
Tolee Gyato II, the Kyidomhene (sub-chief) of the Banda Traditional Council indicated that the people in the area had been blessed by the power produced by the Bui hydro and renewable plants.
"We express our gratitude and God's blessing to the government and families of all the technical brains that conceived and brought to fruition the construction of these projects," he stated.
He said Banda was being littered with industries including cashew, sugar and gold which had potential of creating employment for the youth in the area and called on the BPA to intervene for those industries to pay royalties to the people.
The Chief said the people appreciated the BPA's cordial community relations and corporate social interventions ranging from education and health to clean water and other livelihood interventions.
Earlier, Mr Samuel Dzamesi, the Chief Executive Officer of the BPA, Mr Dzamesi said the Authority was spearheading solar energy projects aimed at expanding sustainable power generation.
That, he explained, was in line with the nation's commitment to increasing renewable energy to 10 percent of its energy mix by 2030.
"These solar plants not only support Ghana's climate goals by reducing dependence on fossil fuels but also help address energy needs in the Northern regions, fostering industrial growth and enhancing energy resilience," Mr Dzamesi stated.