The Bui Power Authority (BPA) has inaugurated six new business modules under its Livelihood Enhancement Programme (LEP) being implemented to improve the socio-economic wellbeing of the persons affected by the construction of the Bui Hydroelectric project.

The six business modules, which will cost GH¢1.08 million, will benefit 237 persons in the areas of tractor agricultural mechanisation, artisanal programme, fish raising, fishing and fish mongering, skills training and mat bag making.

Forty-nine of the beneficiaries are engaged in tractor and garage services, 18 artisans, 30 fish raisers, 24 fishing and fish mongers, 36 skills training and 80 mat bag producers.

The six new modules will bring to 409 the number of persons benefitting from the LEP.

In all, 815 eligible persons are expected to benefit from the entire project, which will cost GH¢4 million.

Cost

The tractor agricultural mechanisation module comes with a tractor, together with ploughing add-ons, a garage with an attendant’s office, as well as seed capital of GH¢295,500 to the group members.

For the artisanal programmes, it is made up of the procurement of enhanced tools and equipment, construction of shops with the connection of electricity, all at a cost of GH¢158,624.

With regard to the fish raising, which will cost GH¢218,189, it comes with 10 aquaponic fish ponds, stocking of fingerlings, budget for re-stocking after first harvest, operational items and training, while the mat bag making, which include the provision of start-up tools and materials, costs GH¢128,320.

The GH¢162, 228.44 fishing and fish mongering module comprises the procurement of canoes and Chorkor smokers and the provision of startup tools and materials, while the skills training module, consisting of the procurement of training items and settlement of training, examination and graduation fees to the trainers, will cost GH¢119,643.