In that regard, Mr. Samuel Kofi Dzamesi, the Chief Executive Officer of the BPA has commissioned a team of surveyors to undertake a feasibility study for the commencement of the project, intended to improve the lives of residents around the dam’s enclave.

Engineer Opoku Acheampong, the Director, Human and Natural Resources of the BPA disclosed this in an interview with the media on the side-lines of the closing session of the Bui Talent Development programme at Jama in the Bole-Bambio District of the Savannah Region.  He lauded the excellent leadership of Mr Dzamesi which had improved social development, thereby, impacting the lives of the people around the dam.  

Through the CEO’s initiatives, Eng. Acheampong said the BPA’s Livelihood Empowerment Porgramme had established about 660 people in livelihood options, while construction work on a standard Astro-turf artificial football pitch was progressing steadily in the area.  He said a mini harbour had also been developed, and undergoing a face lift at Banda Bongase to improve fishing activities, spur economic growth and development as well as creating more jobs for the locals, adding all boreholes around the enclave had also been mechanised to improve potable drinking water.

The ceremony saw the selection of Baah Elisha and Samuel Adjei, natives of Gbao, Joel Fumbio from Teselima, Dicey Bediako from Banda Boase and Abdul Mohammed Kashif, a native of Jogbio to be enrolled at the Accra-based John Paintsil Football Academy.  They were among the more than 200 young and talented players drawn from the major communities who participated in a gala match organised by the BPA in partnership with the Academy and held at Jama in the Bole-Bambio District to run-off the programme.

Touching on the BPA’s Talent Development Programme, Eng. Acheapong explained that already seven talented footballers around the dam’s operational enclave had been enrolled to be trained by the John Accra-based Paintsil Football Academy, making the number of the players 12.  He explained Mr Dzamesi initiated the programme and entered a three-year partnership with the Academy to organise football competition among the 16 major communities around the dam’s enclave.  

Under the agreement, signed in 2021, the Academy founded by John Paintsil, a former key player of the national team, scouts, selects and groom footballing talents in the area.  Mr. Paintsil described the players’ performance and discipline as excellent, saying at the academy the talents were exposed to professional training programmes and routines in preparation for the numerous opportunities ahead of them in the world of football.

 Nana Professor Lanjagor Korley II, the Paramount Chief of Jama, said the local communities recognised, acknowledged and remained appreciative to the efforts being made by the BPA to enhance the socio-economic livelihoods of the people.