President John Dramani Mahama has reaffirmed his commitment to advancing the Petroleum Hub project in the Jomoro municipality of the Western Region.

This initiative, originally launched under the Akufo-Addo administration, is expected to play a transformative role in Ghana’s energy sector.

“The president has a huge vision to actually continue the initiative undertaken by the previous government to accelerate the development of the petroleum hub in Jomoro,” stated Dr Tony Aubin, the newly appointed Chief Executive Officer of the Petroleum Hub Development Corporation.

Dr. Aubin made this assurance during a formal introduction of the Petroleum Hub’s leadership to the Western Regional Minister at the Regional Coordinating Council on Friday, March 21, 2025.

Before this meeting, the leadership team engaged with the Western Regional House of Chiefs, who expressed their strong support for the project’s implementation. The chiefs emphasised the potential economic benefits and reaffirmed their commitment to seeing the initiative materialize.

Once completed, the Petroleum Hub is projected to create over 700,000 jobs, significantly boosting the country’s economy by nearly 70%.

Dr. Aubin likened the anticipated transformation of Jomoro to “Rathadam” in Ireland, a reference to the economic boom expected in the area.

The first phase of the $12 billion US dollars project will fund critical infrastructure, including a 300,000-barrel-per-day (bpd) refinery, a 90,000-bpd petrochemical plant, storage facilities with a 3-million cubic meter (m³) capacity, and a jetty with port infrastructure.

This ambitious initiative aims to position Ghana as a key player in the petroleum and petrochemical industries, driving national economic growth and regional development.

Dr. Tony Aubin, CEO of the Petroleum Hub Development Corporation, revealed President John Mahama’s commitment to resolving outstanding land acquisition issues tied to the Petroleum Hub project in Jomoro.

He disclosed that the president intends to allocate funds for compensating landowners of the 20,000 acres secured by the previous government.

“There are issues of land acquisition. Previous government succeeded in acquiring 20, 000 acres of land. Unfortunately, not a penny has been paid yet and that is an issue we need to deal with,” he said.

He further assured that “the president is keen to do whatever it takes to begin making payment,” though the exact amount remains undisclosed.

In an interview with Asaase News, Dr. Aubin highlighted ongoing efforts to prepare the local workforce for opportunities within the Petroleum Hub. A training program has been initiated to equip the youth in Jomoro not only for the project but also to enhance their overall skill set for broader economic opportunities.

Western Regional Minister Joseph Nelson acknowledged the immense economic potential of the Petroleum Hub, particularly in addressing unemployment and stimulating regional development.

“Western region is faced with many challenges; unemployment is one of them, thinking through which areas to help deal with that challenge. So to have the hub come on stream, full throttle is something that I am excited about,” he said.

The minister pledged the Western Regional Coordinating Council’s unwavering support for the Petroleum Hub’s leadership, ensuring the project’s success.

Meanwhile, concerns have emerged among some Jomoro indigenes regarding the size of land allocated by the chiefs for the project, sparking discontent within the local community.

Some residents of Jomoro have raised concerns over the 20,000 acres of land allocated for the Petroleum Hub project, describing it as excessive. They are calling for a reduction in the land size, with portions returned for alternative developments that would provide them with direct benefits.

Western Regional Minister Joseph Nelson acknowledged the grievances of the local communities, particularly regarding the lack of consultation and the demand to reduce the acquired land.

However, he expressed confidence that with the leadership of Dr. Tony Aubin, these concerns could be addressed while ensuring the project brings the expected development to the region.

The Petroleum Hub is envisioned as a groundbreaking megaproject aimed at becoming Africa’s leading integrated petroleum complex, enhancing value across the upstream and downstream oil and gas sectors.

Reporting by Isaac Hughes in the Western Region

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