Site

Current Status: Pre-Construction / Land Acquisition Phase

Despite the August 2024 groundbreaking ceremony presided over by then-President Nana Akufo-Addo, actual on-site construction has not yet commenced as of early 2026. Petroleum Hub Development Corporation (PHDC) CEO Dr. Toni Aubynn formally declared 2026 the "Year of Action" in January 2026, stating the project is shifting from planning to tangible on-site activity. The key bottleneck remains land acquisition — in April 2026, PHDC confirmed it is still in the process of acquiring the project land, with the Executive Instrument (the legal mechanism transferring the land to the state for the project) expected to be completed by July 3rd, 2026 and final publication will be done by Mid of August 2026. The PHDC Board backed management's push to start physical on-site work in 2026.

Refinery Technical Profile (Jomoro I)

Full PHase One asset specifications are as follows:

Feedstock & Market Strategy

The refinery will process imported crude oil (Ghana's own offshore production — primarily from Jubilee and TEN fields — is relatively modest at ~150,000 bpd and already committed). The hub's Free Zone status means it is primarily export-oriented, targeting the West African regional market for refined products, which currently imports the majority of its fuel needs. The petrochemical plants will use natural gas as feedstock, leveraging Ghana's associated gas resources.

Key Milestones & Timeline

Project Challenges

Several issues have slowed progress beyond the groundbreaking:

• Community compensation — affected landowners and residents in Jomoro require resettlement and compensation payments; PHDC CEO engaged Parliament specifically on this issue in mid-2025

• Land size revision — the hub's total area was reduced from 20,000 to 12,300 acres (5,000 ha) following community consultations, though PHDC states this does not affect project scope

• Political transition — the change of government (President Mahama replacing Akufo-Addo after the December 2024 election) required re-engagement; Dr. Aubynn met President Mahama in November 2025 and confirmed continued government support

• Environmental concerns — proximity to the Amanzule Wetlands (a Ramsar-listed site) has raised NGO and civil society scrutiny

References

1. PHDC Instagram (April 21, 2026) — Confirms land acquisition in progress, Executive Instrument on track for July 2026; physical site works targeted for 2026.
   instagram.com/p/DXY8wLUF_ef
2. GhanaWeb (January 16, 2026) — Dr. Toni Aubynn declares 2026 the "Year of Action" for the Petroleum Hub project.
   ghanaweb.com — 2026 Year of Action
3. PHDC.gov.gh (February 6, 2026) — PHDC Board backs management's push to begin on-site work in 2026.
   phdc.gov.gh — Board backs 2026 start
4. The High Street Journal (January 23, 2026) — Ministry of Energy and Green Transition backs PHDC at 2025 performance review; 2026 plans outlined.thehighstreetjournal.com — Ministerial support
5. Daba Finance (August 22, 2024) — Groundbreaking ceremony details, construction timeline, and TCP-UIC consortium role.
   dabafinance.com — Construction kickoff
6. Jomoro Municipal Assembly (April 2025) — Confirms land size reduction from 20,000 to 12,300 acres and land acquisition meeting timelines.
   jma.gov.gh — News
7. PHDC.gov.gh (April 14, 2026) — Revised 12,300-acre land plan gains support from Jomoro chiefs and political authorities.
   phdc.gov.gh — Revised land plan
8. Construction Review Online (November 18, 2025) — Comprehensive project overview including asset specifications, Free Zone status, and export strategy.constructionreviewonline.com — Jomoro petroleum hub
9. African Energy Council (November 18, 2025) — Update on Jomoro oil refinery project scope, feedstock strategy, and West African market positioning.africanenergycouncil.org — Jomoro update
10. PHDC.gov.gh (June 9, 2025) — CEO engages Parliament on community compensation and land acquisition challenges.
    phdc.gov.gh — Parliamentary engagement
11. GhanaWeb (June 26, 2024) — Nzema Coalition raises conditions on land acquisition: generational compensation, 25% equity, 30% job quota, environmental safeguards.
    ghanaweb.com — Nzema Coalition
12. Gas Outlook (October 7, 2024) — Covers environmental concerns, proximity to Amanzule Wetlands (Ramsar site), and civil society scrutiny.
    gasoutlook.com — Environmental concerns
13. PHDC.gov.gh (April 12, 2025) — PHDC CEO Dr. Toni Aubynn Makes First Official Visit to Jomoro, Site of Ghana’s Ambitious Petroleum Hub.
    phdc.gov.gh — Aubynn visit Jomoro
14. PHDC Facebook (May 4, 2026) — Community engagement update confirming $60bn total project cost and 20,000-acre full site extent.
    facebook.com/phdcgh