Phase two of Bui Hydro Project to add 400 megawatts of electrical power to the country's generation mix has commenced.
The Black Volta River was on Tuesday blocked to pave way for actual construction of the main dam and other structures including spillway, power intake and power house.
Chinese Contractors, Sinohydro Corporation Limited is undertaking the 622-million dollar project.
The first phase, which involved the building of employee and contractor's camps, warehouse, workshop, installation of cracking plant and access road started in August 2007 and completed a month ago ahead of schedule.
President John Agyekum Kufuor, who was on hand to perform the closure, said the project would significantly help transform the economic and social lives of the people not only in the area but the nation.
He said in addition to contributing to the energy security of the country, it had the potential of irrigating 30,000 hectares for agricultural development as well as ecotourism and fisheries.
President Kufuor gave the assurance that adequate measures had been instituted to ensure protection of the environment.
He said the Bui Hydro Authority (BHA), Forestry Commission and other stakeholders were collaborating to protect wildlife for ecological balance.
President Kufuor suggested to BHA to erect a fitting monument at the dam site in memory of the late Mr Kwadwo Baah Wiredu, former Minister of Finance and Economic Planning for the role he played towards commencement of the project.
Mr Felix Owusu Agyapong, Minister for Energy said the project on completion would enhance power supply to Brong Ahafo, Northern, Upper East and West Regions and the West African Power pool.
Mr Yu Wenzhe, Chinese Ambassador to Ghana, said "Bui which carries the dream" of the government and nation was not only a landmark achievement by President Kufuor but also an important milestone of Ghana-China friendship and cooperation.
He said China was committed to forging strategic partnership with Ghana based on mutual trust and economic win-win co-operation.
In another development, President Kufuor had inaugurated an electrification project at Bamboi in the Northern Region.
He said Government had laid a solid foundation for accelerated economic take-off and asked the people to ensure that the country's march towards progress was sustained by retaining the ruling NPP Government in power on December 7.