The Board of Directors of the Bui Power Authority (BPA), has commissioned 54 more raised Aquaponic Fishponds which is part of the Business Modules under the Livelihood Enhancement Programme (LEP) for Project Affected Persons (PAPs).
The newly commissioned 54 fishponds worth GHC850, 939.95 will have 117 beneficiaries who opted for this module. The beneficiaries are among over 300 fish folks in Bator-Akanyakrom, a resettled community under the Authority’s Resettlement Programme.
All beneficiaries of the LEP in addition received maintenance tools and equipment, personal protective gears, and other working tools to enable them to manage their businesses. .
Speaking at a short presentation ceremony, the Board Chairman of the BPA, Mr Kwasi Ameyaw-Cheremeh, gave the assurance that the Authority will strengthen its cordial relations with the PAPs to further enhance the standard of living within the Bui Enclave.
The Chief Executive Officer, Mr Samuel Kofi Dzamesi, encouraged the fish farmers to form cooperatives in order to access financial support to expand their business and delve into other livelihood activities. He also explained that the Authority had provided employable skill training opportunities for some of the PAPs to engage in the manufacturing of ceramic products and mat bags.
The chiefs of the three resettled communities, led by the Bui Chief, Nana Wuo II, expressed appreciation to the BPA for the economic support to the people, and appealed for support from the Authority to provide storage facilities and ready markets for their products.
Business Modules under the Authority’s LEP were instituted to supplement the existing professions of the beneficiaries to afford them the chance to make extra income and become self-sufficient.
Background
The Authority through its Livelihood Enhancement Programme has developed business modules and constituted the 816 eligible Project Affected Persons into Groups of Cooperatives to operate independent businesses. In total, twenty-three (23) Business Modules have been developed with operational requirements and approaches consisting 164-PAP groups. Additionally, BPA assisted them to register with the Registrar General’s Department as independent businesses and acquired Public Procurement Authority’s certificates to enter contracts with BPA and other organizations.
As contractors working for BPA, an estimated amount of Two Hundred Thousand Ghana Cedis (GHS200,000) is spent monthly as payments within the Resettlement Townships for services rendered to the Authority. The groups include Aquaponics Fishing and Fish Mongering, Vulcanizing Sanitation, Fumigation, Weeding/Landscaping/Fire Control, Lawn Maintenance, Car washing; Cleaning Services, Warehouse Maintenance and Event/Entertainment Management, Artisans; Animal Husbandry; Vegetable Farming; and Other Skills Learning.
