The Office of the Presidency has firmly rejected a petition from the Coalition of Concerned Nzema People challenging the acquisition of 20,000 acres of land by the Petroleum Hub Development Corporation (PHDC).
Despite the Coalition’s demands for a binding memorandum of understanding (MoU) with local stakeholders and a halt to the sod-cutting ceremony scheduled for August 19, 2024, the presidency has insisted that the event will proceed as planned.
The statement, issued on August 16 by Secretary to the President Ambassador Nana Asante Bediatuo, reaffirmed that all necessary legal processes for compulsory land acquisition had been followed, including comprehensive stakeholder engagement.
The petitioners had raised concerns over the legitimacy of the land registration and sought to prevent the ceremony pending resolution of these issues.
However, the presidency dismissed these claims, labeling them “palpably false” and referencing a High Court ruling from November 2021 that confirmed the project’s legality.
The statement also noted that the Western Nzema Traditional Council had provided a response denying the petition’s allegations and supporting the continuation of the project for the benefit of the local population.
In response, the Coalition expressed frustration, accusing the President of dismissing their concerns and undermining their rights to free, prior, and informed consent.
They argue that the government’s actions constitute an abuse of human rights guidelines and fail to respect community land rights.
The PHDC’s ambitious $60 billion Petroleum Hub project aims to develop the large tract of land in Jomoro Municipality, Western Region, Ghana, with the government moving forward despite the ongoing controversy.
