Exclusive: Petroleum Hub CEO speaks on delays, jobs, and Ghana's oil future

The Chief Executive of Ghana's Petroleum Hub Development Corporation (PHDC), Dr. Toni Aubynn, has spoken about the delays, job-creation potential and long-term energy outlook for the planned petroleum hub at Jomoro in the Western Region, in an exclusive interview with JoyNews. The full interview is available on YouTube [1](https://youtu.be/bOqyuwp82r4).

Delays and land acquisition

Dr. Aubynn has previously acknowledged that land acquisition remains the principal hurdle to the take-off of the project. The Corporation has been targeting the end of 2026 to commence construction, after preparatory work that began under the previous government in 2020 stalled because the land earmarked for development was not fully acquired. According to reporting by Citi Newsroom, Dr. Aubynn indicated that ongoing processes to secure the land were advancing [2](https://www.citinewsroom.com/2026/03/petroleum-hub-targets-end-2026-take-off-amid-land-acquisition-delays/).

Securing Ghana's energy future

In an earlier interview on Metro TV's Good Afternoon Ghana, Dr. Aubynn said the hub is designed to secure Ghana's long-term energy future while driving industrialisation. “The Petroleum Hub Development Project is intended to secure Ghana's energy future and also ensure that Ghana industrialises through the use of its fossil fuels,” he said, as reported by Metro TV [3](https://metrotvonline.com/petroleum-hub-will-secure-ghanas-energy-future-and-create-jobs-toni-aubynn/).

The project will include three refineries with a combined capacity of about 900,000 barrels per day, petrochemical plants, storage facilities and new port infrastructure. Dr. Aubynn explained that the location at Jomoro offers a natural advantage because of the depth of its shoreline, allowing larger vessels to berth there compared with Tema and Takoradi ports.

The hub will also include tank farms capable of storing about 10 million cubic metres of petroleum products, helping Ghana build reserves that could cushion the country during global supply disruptions. “If we had that kind of storage during crises, we wouldn't be worried about how quickly international prices affect people on the streets,” he said [3](https://metrotvonline.com/petroleum-hub-will-secure-ghanas-energy-future-and-create-jobs-toni-aubynn/).

Jobs and the African market

The Petroleum Hub is expected to create a very large number of jobs. According to the PHDC's own website, Lot One of the project alone is expected to employ more than 30,000 Ghanaians [4](https://phdc.gov.gh/lot-one-of-petroleum-hub-project-to-create-over-30000-job-opportunities-dr-toni-aubynn/). More broadly, Graphic Online reported that Dr. Aubynn has projected up to 700,000 direct and indirect jobs when the hub is fully operational [5](https://www.graphic.com.gh/business/business-news/ghana-petroleum-hub-to-create-700-000-jobs-ceo-tony-aubynn-courts-civil-society-backing.html).

Dr. Aubynn has also pointed to the broader African opportunity. Africa currently imports about 85 percent of the petroleum products it consumes, which he said presents a significant opportunity for Ghana to refine and supply the continental market. He drew a comparison with Singapore, which does not produce a drop of oil but has one of the largest petroleum hubs in the world [3](https://metrotvonline.com/petroleum-hub-will-secure-ghanas-energy-future-and-create-jobs-toni-aubynn/).

Funding and timeline

The estimated $60 billion project is expected to be largely funded by private investors rather than the government. Government spending is expected to cover land acquisition and compensation for affected communities, at an estimated cost of around $74 million to $80 million. The project is planned over a 10-year period using investment models such as build-own-operate-transfer arrangements [3](https://metrotvonline.com/petroleum-hub-will-secure-ghanas-energy-future-and-create-jobs-toni-aubynn/).

The immediate objective is not simply to announce a major Hub, but to demonstrate progress through specific projects, credible partners and an investment structure capable of reaching financial close.

Touchstone Media presents this report based on publicly available reporting. The full JoyNews interview can be watched on YouTube [1](https://youtu.be/bOqyuwp82r4). Touchstone Media shows headlines, summaries and links only — the full interview remains with JoyNews and MyJoyOnline.