Leadership of PHDC in a photo with some members of the Western Nzema Traditional Council
The Western Nzema Traditional Council has dismissed claims that the lands earmarked for Ghana’s flagship Petroleum Hub project are family-owned.
During an official visit on Friday, April 11, 2025, by the Chief Executive Officer of the Petroleum Hub Development Corporation (PHDC), Dr Toni Aubynn, and his team to the Jomoro Municipality, the council clarified that the lands belong to the stools and not individual families.
Delivering a message on behalf of Awulae Annor Adjaye III, President of the Western Nzema Traditional Council, Nana Avo Nwia, Chief of Tikobo Number 2 and a member of the council’s standing committee, described these claims of a family owning the lands as misleading and detrimental to national development.
“We want to set the record straight; these lands are under the authority of our stools and are held in trust for the people of Nzema. They are not family properties. Any assertion to the contrary is factually incorrect and only seeks to create confusion,” he emphasised.
This clarification comes amidst rising public interest in the Petroleum Hub project which is anticipated to revolutionise Ghana’s energy sector, attract billions in investment and create thousands of jobs, particularly for residents in the Western Region.
Nana Avo Nwia reaffirmed the traditional council’s unwavering support for the project and expressed confidence in the leadership of Dr Aubynn and the PHDC team in realising this transformative initiative.
He urged all stakeholders to unify behind the project and avoid spreading misinformation that could hinder its progress.
Dr Toni Aubynn, in his remarks, welcomed the council’s endorsement and reiterated PHDC’s commitment to ensuring full stakeholder engagement and local involvement.
“We are here to reaffirm our commitment and build trust with the people of Nzema. The Petroleum Hub will not only position Ghana as a strategic energy hub in Africa but also bring significant long-term socio-economic benefits to communities like Jomoro,” Dr Aubynn stated.
The Petroleum Hub project, a central pillar of President John Dramani Mahama’s industrialisation agenda, is expected to include refineries, petrochemical plants and related infrastructure.
SA/AE
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