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General News of Sunday, 26 August 2007

Source: Space FM, Sunyani

B/A Minister Urges Chiefs To Support Bui Dam Project

Space FM, Bui,(B/A) Aug. 27- The Brong-Ahafo Regional Minister, Mr. Ignatius Baffour Awuah, has called on Traditional Authorities and other stakeholders in the energy sector to support the Regional Coordinating Council(RCC), in ensuring the smooth completion of the 622 million dollar Bui Hydro-Electric Dam Project at Banda Ahenkro in the Tain District..

Sino-Hydro, the Chinese Company, reputed for the construction of China's biggest hydropower dam, is constructing the dam.

The Dam, which will be constructed on the Black Volta over the next five years, is expected to generate 400 megawatts on completion and would create direct employment for 2,900 Ghanaians.

Apart from hydropower generation, the project has irrigation, fisheries and tourism components and the construction of a nucleus of a metropolis to be called Bui City that is expected to provide impetus to the economic and social transformation of the area.

Mr. Baffour Awuah, who was speaking at the sod cutting ceremony performed by president Kufour to commence work on the project at Bui, noted that whenever such a project comes to an area, the chiefs and people of the area must give total support.

The minister, who coincidentally celebrated his birthday on the same day the Bui project commemnced, tied his destiny to that of the dam.

"Incidentally, today, the 24th day of August, is my birthday just as today is the birthday of the Bui Dam, therefore my personal destiny is tied to the destiny of the Bui Dam", he said.

The regional minister urged the people not to obstruct the construction of the dam in anyway because of its numerous benefits to the nation.