The Chief Executive Officer of the Petroleum Hub Development Corporation, Dr Toni Aubynn, has assessed the potential socio-economic impact of the petroleum hub project on the Jomoro Municipality, noting that the project will completely transform the socio-economic dynamics of the area.
Speaking at the first anniversary celebration of the Paramount Chief of the Western Nzema Traditional Authority, Awulae Kwasi Amakyi III, on Friday, 21 August 2026, Dr Toni Aubynn described the petroleum hub as the single biggest driver of economic progress not only in the Jomoro area but in Ghana as a whole.
Addressing the topic “The Petroleum Hub Development Project – An Economic Game Changer for Our Homeland,” Dr Toni Aubynn projected that the estimated US$60 billion investment in the Petroleum Hub project would bring about economic development on a scale never before seen in the history of the Jomoro area.
He noted that the project, which is expected to create approximately 780,000 jobs and attract significant capital from across the world, would indeed be an economic game-changer for Jomoro.
“As many here are aware, the project involves the development of three refineries with a combined capacity of 900,000 barrels per stream day, five petrochemical plants with a combined capacity of 450,000 barrels per stream day, storage facilities capable of holding ten million cubic metres of petroleum products, and the associated port and jetty infrastructure.
“With the potential to generate more than 780,000 direct and indirect jobs, the Petroleum Hub will transform Jomoro from its present state into a modern, complex industrial city, comparable to Rotterdam in the Netherlands or Jurong in Singapore. As I have often remarked, our vision is to make Jomoro the Rotterdam of Africa,” he said.
Dr Toni Aubynn also disclosed the Petroleum Hub Development Corporation’s (PHDC) intention to ensure that the people of Jomoro derive maximum benefits from the project.
He stated that, in developing its Local Content Policy, the PHDC would hold extensive discussions with the chiefs and people of Jomoro to ensure that their wishes and aspirations are fully reflected in the document that will guide the distribution of benefits from the Petroleum Hub project.
“For us at the Petroleum Hub Development Corporation, ensuring that the people of Jomoro derive maximum benefit from this project is a non-negotiable priority. We are determined to avoid the mistakes of earlier national projects that operated for decades with limited positive impact on their host communities.
“Our commitment is already evident in the priority given to able young men and women from the Jomoro area during the land acquisition exercise in April this year. It is also reflected in our resolve to engage extensively with the good people of Jomoro in the development of our local content policy,” he said.
The event, held at the Assembly Hall of Half Assini Senior High School, was attended by Awulae Kwasi Amakyi III himself, H.E. Maxwell Boakye (Council of State Member for the Western Region), Brigadier General (Rtd) Dr Albert Kabenlah Adu, and other dignitaries from the Jomoro area.
Prior to the event, Dr Toni Aubynn led a delegation from Touchstone Capital Partners and China Harbour Engineering Company on a courtesy call on the Awulae at his palace in Beyin.
The purpose of the visit was to seek the Awulae’s permission, as overlord of the area, to undertake feasibility studies on the 12,356-acre site earmarked for the port and jetties.
The PHDC delegation included the Board Chairman, George Blay-Morkeh, Senior Manager, Legal, and a team from the project office in Jomoro.
About the Petroleum Hub Project
The Petroleum Hub Project will be located in Jomoro, in Ghana’s Western Region. The hub will comprise three refineries with a total capacity of 900,000 barrels per stream day (BPSD) and five petrochemical plants with a minimum capacity of 90,000 BPSD. Storage tanks with a cumulative capacity of 10 million cubic meters and at least two jetties to support import and export activities.
The project is poised to position Ghana as a leading petroleum and petrochemical hub in Africa, enhancing regional energy security and economic integration.
