The Chief Executive Officer of the Petroleum Hub Development Corporation (PHDC), Dr Toni Aubynn, has declared 2026 as the year of action for the Petroleum Hub.

According to him, 2026 would be the year the hard work invested in the project over the years would translate into tangible results. 

Speaking to the media in Accra yesterday, Dr Aubynn said 2026 would mark the beginning of tangible groundwork in Jomoro in the Western Region, where the multi-billion-dollar petroleum and petrochemical hub is to be developed. 

“2026 is a critical year for the Petroleum Hub. It’s a year we want to see action. We want to move from talk to action, and we are very hopeful that this will happen,” he stated, underscoring the significance of the year in the project’s lifecycle.

Dr Aubynn attributed the renewed momentum largely to strong backing from President John Dramani Mahama, whose support, he said, has been instrumental in advancing the project towards implementation. 

“I am confident things will happen this year thanks to the vision of the President, because he has been very supportive. People may not see the open support he gives us, but he has been extremely supportive,” Dr Aubynn said.

He further highlighted the crucial role played by the Minister of Energy and Green Transition, Dr John Jinapor, describing his support as consistent and impactful. 

Dr Aubynn also acknowledged the contributions of the Deputy Minister of Energy, Richard Gyan-Mensah, and the Minister of Lands and Natural Resources, Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, noting that their collective efforts had created an enabling environment for the project to take off.

He expressed confidence that the foundation laid in 2025 had adequately positioned the project for execution, with major site activities expected to commence in Jomoro in 2026, signalling a new phase in the country’s industrial and energy development agenda.

The Petroleum Hub project, which aims to position Ghana as a downstream petroleum and petrochemical hub in West Africa, gained significant visibility in 2025 through an aggressive stakeholder engagement drive led by PHDC. 

The Corporation participated in major international summits, held extensive consultations with local and global stakeholders, and engaged potential investors across multiple jurisdictions.