Resurrect Barekese power project- Cleric

A Cleric has called for the re-visit of the Barekese Dam Hydro Power Project, envisaged by Ghana’s first President, Osagyefo Dr Kwame Nkrumah, as the government works hard to resolve the country’s energy challenges.

The Dam, which was started in 1965 and completed in June 1969, was to serve the twin-purpose of supplying Kumasi and its outlying communities with pipe-borne water and electricity.

The Very Reverend Lieutenant Colonel Isaac Kofi Gyamfi (Retired), Tetrem Circuit Minister of the Methodist Church, said the energy component of the project which, for unexplained reasons, was sidestepped needs to be revived.

Underground pillars erected to seat the generators and cables to carry the electrical power are already in place, he said.

The Very Rev. Lt. Col. Gyamfi told the Ghana News Agency that power from the dam could significantly add to the national generation mix.

Dr Nkrumah had foreseen that, after 50 years, the country would need to augment electricity supply from the Akosombo Dam to power the industries, hence the decision to construct other dams, including Bui and Barekese, he added.

He said he found it disheartening that such a critical and well-intentioned project should be neglected.