Jomoro:The Member of Parliament for Jomoro and Deputy Minister for Transport, Dorcas Affo-Toffey, has expressed her approval of the signing of the Phase II agreement for Ghana’s US$28 billion Petroleum Hub Project. She emphasized that the project is a significant opportunity to create jobs and stimulate local economic growth.
According to Ghana Web, Affo-Toffey participated in the signing ceremony alongside the Minister for Energy and Green Transition, the Western Regional Minister, the leadership and board of the Petroleum Hub Development Corporation (PHDC), and traditional authorities from Jomoro and the Nzema area. The agreement, involving the PHDC and an international consortium led by Global Sphere, aims to advance the development of Lot Two of the strategic national project under a Build-Operate partnership arrangement.
The Petroleum Hub Project is a part of Ghana’s broader goal to enhance its position in the global petroleum and energy industry through increased investment, industrial expansion, and job creation. For the Jomoro constituency, the project offers substantial prospects for economic transformation, including expanded employment opportunities, increased business activities, and accelerated infrastructure development.
Affo-Toffey highlighted the importance of translating the anticipated investment into tangible benefits for residents, particularly for the youth, local entrepreneurs, and communities directly affected by the project. She noted that it could provide young people with employment opportunities, technical and professional skills, business establishment possibilities, and participation in the growing petroleum industry value chain.
She also emphasized the need for local businesses to benefit from contracts and commercial opportunities in construction, logistics, supply of goods and services, technical support, and other related activities. Affo-Toffey stressed that the success of the Petroleum Hub should be measured not only by the investment it attracts but also by its impact on livelihoods, household incomes, local enterprise development, and the long-term economic prospects of Jomoro communities.
Furthermore, the Deputy Transport Minister underscored the importance of targeted skills development and technical training to prepare young people for emerging employment opportunities as the project progresses. She called for practical measures to enhance local participation in the industrial value chain, ensuring that the investment benefits extend beyond the project's immediate operations.
The Phase II agreement's signing is seen as a milestone in the Petroleum Hub’s development, with stakeholders optimistic about the partnership advancing the next phase of the project. As the implementation continues, effective collaboration among government institutions, project authorities, traditional leaders, businesses, and host communities will be vital to achieving the expected economic and social benefits.
Affo-Toffey reaffirmed her commitment to working with stakeholders to promote the interests of Jomoro’s people, ensuring that the constituency is strategically positioned to benefit from employment, entrepreneurship, technical training, and infrastructure development opportunities. Her stance highlights the necessity of ensuring that major national investments contribute directly to local economic growth and improvements in living conditions for the people they aim to serve.