The Paramount Chief of the Western Nzema Traditional Authority, Awulae Kwasi Armahchi III, has appealed to the government and the Petroleum Hub Development Corporation (PHDC) to ignore external voices opposing the Petroleum Hub project.
He declared that the project enjoys the overwhelming support of the chiefs and residents of the Jomoro area.
In his view, the chiefs and elders of Jomoro fully recognise the massive transformative potential of the Petroleum Hub project and are therefore not only open to it but are eager for its successful implementation.
Addressing a PHDC delegation led by Chief Executive Officer Dr. Toni Aubynn during a stakeholder engagement on Friday, April 10, 2026, the Awulae expressed reservations about the reduction of the project land from the original 20,000 acres to 12,300 acres (5,000 hectares).
But, he made it clear that his office and the people of Jomoro will not contest the new land size.
He rallied his people, urging them to focus on the long-term future of Jomoro rather than on the immediate benefits they could derive from using the land for other purposes.
He cautioned that the Western Nzema Traditional Council will not tolerate any individual or institution that attempts to undermine or delay the progress of the project, emphasising that such actions could ultimately prevent the initiative from coming to fruition.
“The PHDC delegation took a noble step to seek our blessings before beginning work on the project site. I’m grateful to them for the respect they’ve accorded this house. The land for the project belongs to me and I have no problem with it.
As the Awulae, my immediate focus isn’t on making money and derailing the progress of Nzema. I want my people to know that I seek peace, progress and employment for our youth. These are the most important things to me, so I don’t care about land size. All I want are jobs for my people. I see the developments in other areas and I want my people to experience the same progress.
Those who want to drag us, I want you to know that we are marching forward. The Petroleum Hub project will be developed here in Jomoro. Posterity will judge all of us, so we must do what is in the interest of our people. We are going to develop the project and it will be done on my land, so everyone must know and come on board. Petroleum Hub has come to stay and it has come to stay in Jomoro,” he said.
The Awulae urged the chiefs and influential figures in the various towns to serve as ambassadors for the project and to secure the full buy-in of their people by highlighting its potential to drive employment and development in the area.
In his response, the Chief Executive Officer of the PHDC, Dr. Toni Aubynn, expressed gratitude to Awulae Kwasi Armahchi III for his words of assurance, noting that they would significantly boost the Corporation’s efforts.
He assured the Awulae that the PHDC remains committed to continuous engagement and will fully develop the project.
By Benjamin Aidoo
