Bui Power Authority (BPA) says the Green Ghana Initiative is in tandem with the Authority's ongoing Forest Resource Enhancement Program (FREP), designed to promote reforestation activities and conservation of the natural forest in their operational areas.

The flagship program since 2012 is one of the Authority's primarily climate change mitigation tools being implemented on acquired land within the Black Volta Basin and the Tsatsadu generation stations and their environs.

BPA, a leader in renewable energy in the sub-region, says they are conscious of the impact of climate change and global warming on hydropower generation and, as such, welcomes the Green Ghana Initiative, which targets to plant about 20 million different trees across the country in 2022.

Speaking ahead of BPA’s planting of 20,000 species of seedlings to mark the Green Ghana Day on June 10, 2022, at Bui, the Deputy Director, Occupational Health, Safety and Environment at BPA, Chrisentus Bangkewa Kuunifaa, said as part of FREP, Teak, Acacia, Cedrela, Mahogany, and fruit trees (mango, coconuts, guava, and citrus) have been planted on a 172 hectares of land.

He said they have plans to establish additional 405-hectare plantations to also enhance the ecosystem within the Bui enclave.

He explained that “the forest being created under the program would help control and protect the Bui lake against soil erosion, reservoir siltation, and sedimentation, thereby prolonging the lifespan of the lake to sustain economic activities such as power production, fishery, tourism, agriculture, water supply, improvement of microclimate, among others".

To achieve the objectives, Mr. Kuunifaa revealed that the BPA is collaborating with the forestry commission and other stakeholders to formulate bye-laws to protect and conserve the gallery forest and the plantations.

He also said they would partner with the Ghana Education Service to establish environmental clubs in the schools to establish woodlots and conservation practices.

The Deputy Director at BPA, Mr. Kuunifaa, however, said the Authority looks forward to a partnership with strategic investors, environmental NGOs, donors and key stakeholders to combat the climate change menace by creating a green environment.

He advised Ghanaians to be committed to the growth of the trees and seek help on how to plant and nurture the tree seedlings.

On his part, the Director of Estates at BPA, Wombila Salifu, speaking on behalf of the BPA CEO, Samuel Kofi Dzamesi, said climate change and global warming continue to threaten clean and safe renewable energy use.

This, he said, requires measures that are in line with sustainable development goals 7 (universal access to affordable, reliable, and modern energy services) and 3 (the need to take urgent actions to combat climate change and its impacts).

“Policy makers, planners, managers can no longer rely on the past climatic conditions, but concerted efforts are needed in building climate resilience now and the future”, he said, adding that the FREP by BPA and the Green Ghana initiative is the way forward.
 
The Green Ghana Day saw workers of BPA, Ghana Fire Service, Soldiers, traditional leaders, and students actively involved in the tree planting.

Belinda Gyamfua, a student of Jama DA Junior High School in the Bole District of the Savannah Region, like her colleagues, expressed her delight and contribution to saving a life by planting a tree.