The Managers of the Bui Hydropower Dam project in the Banda District of the Bono Region in Ghana, the Bui Power Authority (BPA), is constructing a $48 million solar power project in Ghana.

The first phase of the project is 10 megawatts and is to be completed before the end of next month, while the second phase of the project is 40 megawatts and is scheduled for completion by the end of the year.

The solar project is to add 250 MW of power to the dam’s already existing capacity of 400 MW. The Authority said the expansion works on the switchyard of the Dam has already been done to accommodate the additional energy that would be generated from the solar farm.

Commenting on the achievements of the BPA within the renewable energy sector, the Renewable Energy Manager of the BPA, Peter Acheampong, said a first of its kind project in the West African sub-region, a 1MW floating plant is also under construction on the Bui Reservoir.

Acheampong said the developments of solar projects in the country is a representation of the government’s National Determined Contribution (NDC) towards the United Nation’s Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). Ghana strives to adopt innovative and sustainable technologies within the renewable energy sphere to meet its commitment to the agreement.

In the words of the Renewable Energy Manager, “To achieve the set targets, the BPA, leaders in the renewable energy was given the mandate to develop renewable energy potentials within the Bui Enclave and the Western Rivers.”

The Government of Ghana through the Ministry of Energy have set out programs and policies that would help to achieve the target of the $48m solar power project to augment Bui dam in Ghana.

The West African nation used to boast of a constant supply of electricity but in recent times, it has encountered challenges which have forced the country to have “light-out” or “dumsor” as it is called by Ghanaians. The adoption of renewable energy and proper investment in it which the government is already doing will bring a lasting solution to the power problems currently faced.