Speech By His Excellency The President of Ghana on the Occasion of The River Diversion at the Bui Dam Site

on 2ND December 2008

Your Excellencies, Our Respected Chiefs and Traditional Leaders, Ministers, Members of Parliament, Board of Directors and Management of Bui Power Authority, the Media, Ladies and Gentlemen.

On 24^th August 2007, I visited the site with some of you gathered here today.  The occasion was for the sod cutting ceremony to mark the beginning of the project. Today, after barely a year and a half, we are here again to witness the diversion of the Black Volta at the Bui Dam Site signifying that we have completed all preparatory works and are now MOVING FORWARD to the actual construction of the dam.

I would like to thank the President of China, Mr. Hu Jintao and the people of that Great nation, for offering us the financial support to enable our dear country improve upon energy capacity. My sincere appreciation and gratitude also go to the Directors, Management and the Ghanaian Workers of the Sinohydro Corporation, the contractors who have and continue to endure harsh working conditions at this site to complete the Phase One of the Project one month ahead of scheduled. To all the workers I say AYEKOO.

On this occasion I also want to pay tribute the residents of this community who are being affected by the Project. Every effort is being made to ensure that lives are enriched by this project through alternative accommodation and livelihood programmes being implemented by Bui Power Authority. The process of establishing final compensation for land and economic assets has also been done and I only crave the indulgence of all those who are affected, especially Nananom and the youth of the affected areas, to ensure restrain and to ensure that the proper thing is done at the end.

Indeed, the list of people worthy of acknowledgement for their contributions towards the success of this project is a very tall one which time would not allow me to mention. But please permit me to single out our beloved, the late Finance Minister, Mr. Kwadwo Baah Wiredu. Those of us, who had the privilege of working with him, bear witness to his zeal and commitment to this project. His passion for the development of a model tourist city at Bui with educational facilities was unrivalled. To honour such a man and his works, I have instructed the management of Bui Power Authority to select an appropriate site to erect a befitting monument to his cherished memory. >>