Bui Power Authority appeals to affected farmers to exercise restrain
The Bui Power Authority (BPA) on Thursday appealed to affected farmers to be patient as the modalities for the payment of their compensation is worked out.
It said it was aware of the delay in the payment of compensation to farmers especially those affected by the construction of its transmission lines.
BPA is managing the construction of the 400 megawatts Bui Dam in the Banda District of Brong-Ahafo Region.
It pledged to continue to liaise with the Lands Commission and Ministries of Energy and Finance and Economic Planning to ensure speedy processing and release of funds for disbursement to affected farmers.
The appeal was contained in a statement signed by Mr Gabriel Apatu, External Relations Assistant of BPA, and copied to the Ghana News Agency (GNA) in Sunyani on Thursday.
It was in reaction to a demonstration by some of the affected farmers in the Kintampo Municipality on Wednesday, January 30, 2013 to protest against the delay in payment of the compensation.
They wore red arm bands, held placards and paraded through some of the streets of Kintampo.
The statement said the claims were being processed by MOFEP and when funds were available the compensation would be paid.
As part of the hydroelectric project, four transmission lines are being constructed to supply power from the Bui generating station.
They are the Bui-Tesselima, two 18-kilometre transmission lines to break into existing Techiman-Sawla to form the Bui-Sawla and Bui Techiman, 70-kilometre Bui-Kintampo and 138-kilometre Bui-Sunyani transmission lines.
The statement said the Land Valuation Division (LVD) of the Lands Commission with assistance from the BPA inspected and assessed farms and property affected by the project within the 30-metre Right of Way (ROW).
However, it said in April 2012, crop compensation was paid in respect of farms within the construction site for the main Bui Dam, the inundation area and the resettlement township.
The Bui Hydroelectric Project was designed primarily for hydropower generation, however, includes the development of an irrigation scheme for agricultural development and presents an opportunity for enhanced eco-tourism and fisheries.
Expected to cost about $622 million, the project is being financed with a concessional loan of $263.5 million from the Chinese Government, a buyer’s credit of $298.5 million from the EXIM Bank together with the government’s contribution of $60 million.
Source: GNA