Traditional leaders in the Western Region have pledged their full support for Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the Petroleum Hub Development Corporation (PHDC), Dr Toni Aubynn, as he leads efforts to realise the Petroleum Hub Project.
The chiefs expressed optimism about the hub’s potential to boost economic growth, create jobs, and position Ghana as Africa’s first major petroleum hub upon completion.
right) with the traditional leaders
The President of the Western Regional House of Chiefs, Nana Kobina Nketiah IV, reiterated his strong appeal for the headquarters of the PHDC to be cited in the Western Region.
According to him, such a move would underscore the commitment and seriousness attached to the realisation of the project, while also aligning with the region’s rich resource base.
Nana Nketiah IV lamented the continuous concentration of corporate headquarters in Accra.
“It is quite disheartening that almost every headquarters ends up in Accra.” Nana Nketiah stated.
He urged authorities to decentralise key institutions and ensure that regions which contributed significantly to the nation’s economy benefited directly from such developments.
Addressing the chiefs, Dr Aubynn reaffirmed President John Dramani Mahama’s vision to transform Jomoro into the “Rotterdam of Ghana”, a global energy hub.
He emphasised that beyond infrastructure development, PHDC is committed to training and preparing local youth to seize the employment opportunities that will arise when construction begins.
“With the right training, the youth will not only qualify for jobs within the hub but also become competitive for similar roles elsewhere,” Dr Aubynn assured.
The Petroleum Hub, once operational, is projected to generate over 700,000 direct and indirect jobs, ensuring energy accessibility, reliability, affordability, and sustainability across Ghana and the West African sub-region.
Responding to the concerns of the chiefs about late payment of compensation to communities affected by oil and gas operations, Dr Aubynn assured them that President Mahama is committed to expediting compensation payments.
“President Mahama has charged me to ensure the swift payment of all compensations because we cannot hold title to the land without fulfilling that obligation,” Dr Aubynn stated.
He further urged the youth and local stakeholders to embrace the project with confidence and traditional leaders in the area to provide continuous support to ensure its smooth execution.
Awulae Annor Adjaye III, the Paramount Chief of the Western Nzema Traditional Area, which hosts the hub, encouraged Dr Aubynn to maintain transparency, community engagement, and excellence in leadership always.
In a related development, Dr Aubynn also paid a courtesy call on the Western Regional Minister, Joseph Nelson, at the Western Regional Coordinating Council.
Joseph Nelson congratulated Dr Aubynn on his appointment and praised his distinguished track record in both the private and public sectors.
He pledged his full support in facilitating the project, underscoring the hub’s potential to drive industrialisation and economic transformation in the Western Region.
With the potential to create over 700,000 direct and indirect jobs, the project is expected to drive economic growth and industrial transformation.
President John Dramani Mahama has tasked Dr Aubynn and his team to expedite work on the development of the project to ensure its swift realisation.
BY TIMES REPORTER
