The Chief Executive Officer of the Petroleum Hub Development Corporation (PHDC), Dr Toni Aubynn, has engaged stakeholders within the Jomoro Municipality on the operations of the corporation.

The area is the designated landmark for the petroleum hub project in the country.

He was accompanied by his deputies, Onasis Rosely and Halimatu Sadia Abdulai Abu, as well as other senior management members.

The team also visited the project office in Nawule and the Jomoro Municipality to familiarise themselves with ongoing activities.

The visit followed a recent engagement with the Western Regional House of Chiefs by management of the corporation.

Commitment

Dr Aubynn reaffirmed the government’s commitment to ensuring the project was implemented successfully.

He pledged to collaborate with the people of Jomoro to advance the petroleum hub initiative, saying the visit demonstrated the government’s unwavering dedication to the realisation of the project.

Vision

The CEO further called on the chiefs and people of Jomoro to trust in his leadership while pledging to take necessary measures to transform the hub from conception to reality and position Ghana as the first African nation to develop such an integrated energy infrastructure.

He said the vision was to make Jomoro the “Rotterdam of Africa,” and, therefore, appealed for calm and support.

Dr Aubynn said efforts were also being intensified to secure funding, particularly for the compensation of landowners whose 20,000 acres had been earmarked for the project.

He also said that the corporation would prioritise local content by ensuring Jomoro residents were first in line for technical and other key roles.

“President John Mahama has tasked us to ensure that the people of Jomoro will be the first to benefit, and we are determined to deliver on that,” the CEO said.

In line with that, he announced an upcoming skills development initiative to train local youth for emerging opportunities within the project.

Project

In a speech read on behalf of Awulae Annor Adjaye III and Nana Avo Nwia, Chief of Tikobo Number Two, and a member of the Standing Committee, they dismissed earlier rumours that chiefs in the area were opposed to the implementation of the project.

They lauded Dr Aubynn’s extensive experience in the mining and energy sectors, adding that his credibility and leadership style had inspired confidence among the chiefs and people in the area.

Nana Avo Nwia urged the PHDC and the government to focus on delivering a transformative project to generate many jobs for the youth.

He further called for the expedited compensation of farmers whose lands fall within the project area.