The Chief Executive Officer of the Petroleum Hub Development Corporation (PHDC), Dr. Toni Aubynn, has urged development planners across the country to actively champion the promotion and successful execution of the Petroleum Hub project.
The Petroleum Hub Project is a government‑led private‑sector initiative estimated to cost $60 billion and will be located in Jomoro in the Western Region. The hub will comprise three refineries with a combined capacity of 900,000 barrels per stream day (BPSD) and five petrochemical plants with a minimum capacity of 90,000 barrels per day.
It will also have storage tanks with a cumulative capacity of 10 million cubic metres and at least two jetties to support import and export activities.
The project aims to position Ghana as a leading petroleum and petrochemical hub in Africa, boosting regional energy security and deepening economic integration.
Speaking at the 54th Annual General Conference of the Ghana Institute of Planners in Tamale on Thursday, November 27, 2025, under the theme: “The Role of Economic Hubs in Stimulating Growth and Creating New Employment Pathways – Insights from Ghana’s Petroleum Hub Project,” Dr. Aubynn emphasized that planners have a pivotal role in driving the initiative forward.
He noted that development planners are duty‑bound to educate the public and raise awareness about the transformative socio‑economic potential of the Petroleum Hub, encouraging them to serve as ambassadors for the project.
He highlighted the hub’s potential to provide a sustainable solution to the illegal mining (locally known as galamsey) menace as one of the key messages planners could help communicate to secure national support.
Dr. Aubynn further underscored the importance of planners in both the developmental and operational phases of the project, reaffirming the PHDC’s readiness to work closely with the planning community.
“The Petroleum Hub holds the future of the transformation of this country, and the development planners must get involved in educating the country. They must also participate in the development of the Petroleum Hub project,” he said.
Addressing concerns about political interference, Dr. Aubynn assured stakeholders that the project enjoys strong bipartisan backing and will not be derailed by changes in government.
He affirmed that the administration of President John Dramani Mahama is fully committed to delivering the Petroleum Hub and revealed that land‑acquisition processes are nearing completion.
“We had issues with securing the land, but we are close to resolving that. The government will soon issue an Executive Instrument (EI) to secure the land, and compensation will be paid.
The Petroleum Hub project is not lacking investors. We have MoUs with some investors and also have proper agreements with some of them to anchor the project,” he stated.
This year’s conference, themed “Shaping Ghana’s Tomorrow: The Role of Planning in Driving Economic Growth, Job Creation, and Sustainable Urban Development,” has brought together planners, policymakers, and government officials to discuss strategies to strengthen the planning profession and advance national development.
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