The Jomoro Petroleum Hub Development Project has hit a snag, with a 200 million cedi compensation package for affected communities still pending despite former President Akufo-Addo’s directives to release the funds.
This delay is raising concerns, particularly given Chief Executive Officer of the Petroleum Hub Development Corporation (PHDC), Dr. Toni Aubynn’s warnings about the previous government’s failure to properly secure the land for the project.
The Jomoro Petroleum Hub Development project in the Western Region, with an estimated total cost of US$60 billion, spans over 20,000 acres of land. It will feature among others three refineries, five petrochemical plants, 10 million cubic metres of storage facilities, jetties and port infrastructure.
Ancillary services will include: power plant, rail and road networks, LNG terminals, pipelines, water treatment facilities, waste treatment facilities, logistics and security services, residential and commercial facilities.
However, the delayed compensation has raised concerns about the project’s impact on local communities.
At the sod cutting ceremony of the phase one of the three phases on August 19, 2024, then president William Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo, instructed the Finance Ministry to release GHC200 million as compensation for the affected communities.
“The Chiefs and people of Jomoro have generously offered their lands for the development and enhancement of these vital projects.
“In recognition of their contribution and with deep appreciation, I have instructed the Ministry of Finance to release an initial two hundred million Ghana cedis to commence the payment of compensation for the affected lands, as a first step towards discharging our liabilities to the affected communities,” said Akufo-Addo.
But, this is yet to be done.
Some affected residents of the Nawowle enclave where 20,000-acre plots of their land have been acquired for the project had raised concerns with the plot size, compensation and Corporate Social Responsibility issues.
At a meeting with the Western Regional House of Chiefs in Sekondi, CEO of the Petroleum Hub Development, Dr. Toni Aubynn, said the unpaid compensation is a challenge.
“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.
“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”.
By Ebenezer Atiemo
