Former President John Dramani Mahama has announced plans to release a portion of the land acquired for the Petroleum Hub Project in the Western Region, as part of a renewed effort to fast-track the long-delayed initiative.
Speaking during a courtesy call by the Western Regional House of Chiefs, Mr. Mahama said his administration is committed to reviving the project, which aims to position Ghana as a major player in Africa’s petroleum and petrochemical industries.
“We intend to accelerate work on the Petroleum Hub to attract investment to the Western Region and create jobs for our youth,” he said. “I’ve instructed the minister responsible to renegotiate the land acquisition with traditional landowners.”
Mahama emphasized that the government would not need the entire 20,000 hectares of land initially earmarked for the project.
“Our aim is to relinquish the excess land and pay fair compensation for what will actually be used. We believe the project can begin with 5,000 hectares. If more land is needed later, we’ll acquire it at that point, rather than tying down 20,000 hectares now,” he explained.
Land Concerns and Community Impact
The Petroleum Hub Project was first announced in 2020 under President Nana Akufo-Addo’s administration as a $60 billion vision to establish Africa’s first integrated petroleum and petrochemical hub.
However, the project has faced strong resistance from affected communities, particularly in the Domunli and Jomoro areas, where many residents—largely farmers—say they risk being displaced without adequate compensation or alternative livelihoods.
Mahama’s new approach signals a shift toward greater engagement with local stakeholders and a more phased development strategy.
By scaling down the initial land requirements and committing to fair compensation, the former president hopes to rebuild trust with landowners and speed up the implementation of a project that could be transformative for the region.
