The Board Chairperson of the Bui Power Authority (BPA), Ambassador Kwadwo Nyamekye Marfo, has reaffirmed the Authority’s commitment to environmental sustainability, describing its afforestation efforts as critical to safeguarding Ghana’s ecological future.
He said initiatives such as the Forest Resource Enhancement Programme (FREP) and the Zero Bushfire Campaign demonstrate that BPA is not only fulfilling its core energy mandate but also contributing significantly to ecological restoration and sustainable development.
Amb Nyamekye Marfo, who was speaking during a tree planting exercise at Bui, said the 2025 “Tree for Life” campaign was more than a ceremonial activity.
“It is an affirmation of our shared responsibility to preserve and regenerate Ghana’s landscape for future generations,” he said.
He noted that witnessing the environmental interventions at Bui had been both humbling and encouraging, adding that the trees planted symbolised hope, resilience, and collective responsibility.
Chief Executive Officer of the BPA, Ing. Kow Eduakwa Sam, noted that the Authority remained committed to integrating climate action into its operations. He explained that BPA’s energy mix—comprising 404 megawatts of hydro, 55 megawatts of solar, and nearly 200 megawatts of solar PV under development—underscored its dedication to clean and sustainable power generation.
Ing. Sam said the FREP, launched in 2012, continues to serve as the Authority’s flagship environmental intervention that promotes afforestation, water conservation, food security, and the protection of natural forests within the Bui enclave and its associated ecosystem.
“Our environmental stewardship is not an add-on; it is central to our operations,” he said, adding that sustainability must move beyond policy into daily practice. “As the saying goes, when the last tree dies, the last man dies,” he stated.
As part of the nationwide campaign to plant seven million trees in line with Ghana’s climate promise under the Paris Agreement (National Determined Contributions) and other global climate goals, BPA is planting a variety of seedlings, including teak, mahogany, ceiba, ofram, metallic, gmelina, and dawadawa.
Mr. Emmanuel Antwi, Deputy Bono Regional Manager of the Forestry Commission, commended BPA for its significant contributions and called for stronger public commitment to tree planting and environmental protection.
“We must instil in the citizenry the habit of nurturing trees to maturity to support biodiversity, reduce carbon emissions and contribute to food security,” he urged.
BPA’s Director of Occupational Health, Safety, Security, and Environment, Mr. Chrisentus Bangekewa Kuunifaa, said environmental sustainability has been embedded into the Authority’s operations. He revealed that the reforestation programme at Bui would not only restore degraded lands but also create job opportunities for the youth in the enclave.
Mr. Kuunifaa emphasised that environmental protection must be seen as a national responsibility.
“It is not the job of one leader, one department, or one institution. It is a shared duty for boardrooms, classrooms and communities across the country,” he said.
The launch of the tree planting exercise at Lipo, at the Bui Hydro Dam’s enclave, was well attended by staff of the BPA, representatives from the Forestry Commission, the military, traditional leaders, students, assembly members and others.
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