BPA Marks Green Ghana Day

As part of the nationwide Green Ghana Day celebration, the Bui Power Authority with some of its key stakeholders commemorated the day with a tree-planting exercise at the Bui Generating Station.

The event which took place on the morning of Friday, 9th June, 2023, saw in attendance staff from BPA, members of the Ghana Armed Forces (Airforce, Army, & Navy), Ghana National Fire Service and the Ghana Police Service. Also present were the BPA Green Academy (students from the BPA school), staff of BPA hospital and the PAP (Project Affected Persons) Contractors.

In a speech read on behalf of the CEO of BPA, Hon. Samuel Kofi Ahiave Dzamesi, the Director, Estates, Mr. Maxwell Wumbilla Salifu, stressed that the importance of forest reserves to all forms of life on our planet cannot be underestimated.

He further stated that, in line with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goals, we are enjoined in Target 15.2 to “promote the implementation of sustainable management of all types of forests, halt deforestation, restore degraded forests and substantially increase afforestation and reforestation globally."

He continued that, BPA was committed to relentlessly establishing forests cover through our flagship ‘Forest Resource Enhancement Program (FREP)’ to implementing climate mitigating actions through tree planting within all BPA’s operational areas among others with the needed resources to achieve our desired objectives.

He indicated that, the FREP initiative commenced in 2012 on a pilot scheme and has over the years received a tremendous boost with an expansion from a coverage area of 423.67 acres as of 2021 to 1,423.67 in 2023 under his Leadership.

On bushfire management, he paid special tribute to Ghana National Fire Service deployed to Bui and PAPs Contractors in complementing the OHSE Team’s efforts to achieve this.

The Deputy Director of OHS&E, Mr. Chrisentus B. Kuunifaa, indicated that, the forests are serving as the “lungs of the earth that support our very existence and survival on this planet"

He therefore underscored the critical role Forest play in BPA business continuity and operational excellence, in line with the theme for the 2023 Green Ghana Day; “OUR FORESTS, OUR HEALTH”.

He catalogued some of the benefits of the established Forests which included provision of clean air, carbon capture, food, medicine, water (hydrological cycle), and supports life of all forms and wellbeing.

On his part, the Director of the Power Operations Department, Mr. Samuel Nimako Boateng reiterated that Energy was key to our human development such as providing basic needs, increasing productivity and improving effective health care delivery.

He stated that, being conscious of the imminence of the threats of climate change and global warming, BPA will continue to position itself to contributing zero carbon emissions its operations.

Credit: Bui Power Authority