The Bui Power Authority is collaborating with the Ghana Armed Forces to build a Forward Operating Base (FOB) at the Bui Generating Station (BGS) to, among others, provide security for national assets on the acquired land of about 1,800 square kilometres of the Bui Hydroelectric Project.

The 36No facility, which will accommodate 150 All-Ranks personnel, an administration block, a clinic, a square, an armoury, a recreational centre, a magazine, a bunker, among others, will serve as a strategic location for the military to conduct operations to provide security and repel threats from neighbouring countries bordering Ghana.  

At a brief sod-cutting ceremony to commence work at Bui, the Chief Executive Officer of BPA, Mr Fred Oware, explained that the government of Ghana’s investment within the BPA acquired land makes it necessary for steps to be taken to secure the area, especially ahead of the development of the Bui City concept.

The Bui City concept, which was developed 13 years ago, envisages using portions of the acquired land for an industrial and tourism hotspot, agriculture and agro-processing; theme parks, estates, fisheries, and solar projects, among others.

Mr Oware appealed to the communities to extend the same peaceful courtesies and coexistence that the Authority has enjoyed over the years to the military and assured them that the presence of the military will only strengthen the peace and security within the area.

For his part, the Chief of Defence Staff, Vice-Admiral Seth Amoama, the guest of honour, stated that the army could not leave the nation’s strategic installations exposed to threats of international terrorists.

He said that this was an expanded security operation by the Ghana Armed Forces within the Bui enclave, since there was already a limited deployment in the area at Dokokyina and Bui.

Mr Oware appealed to the communities to cooperate with the military as security is a shared responsibility.

He also urged corporate institutions to emulate BPA’s example of supporting the military with operational and logistic requirements to perform its security functions better.

The Chief of Army Staff, Major General Thomas Oppong Peprah, indicated that the project should take about six months to complete and deployment of personnel will follow immediately.

He recounted that the FOB was a result of a year-long discussion with the BPA and applauded BPA’s commitment to security in the enclave.

The ceremony was attended by the Chief of Defence Staff; Vice-Admiral Seth Amoama, the Chief of the Army Staff; Major General Thomas Oppong Peprah, the Chief of Air Staff; Air Vice-Marshal Frank Hansen, BPA Executives and Management, Directors from the Army and Airforce Head Quarters, District Chief Executive, Community Chiefs and elders and some BPA staff.