Sod-cutting Ceremony For Petroleum Hub Project Will Proceed – Presidency Tells Nzema People

The Office of the Presidency has rejected a petition filed by the Coalition of Concerned Nzema People, challenging the acquisition of 20,000 acres of land by the Petroleum Hub Development Corporation (PHDC), insisting that the scheduled sod-cutting ceremony will proceed as planned.

This follows a petition by the Coalition of Concerned Nzema People dated August 15 and presented to the Presidency, demanding that the PHDC signs a comprehensive and binding MoU with Nzema Maanle, chiefs, family heads and individual landowners.

The petitioners also sought the cancellation of the disputed land registration and a halt to the scheduled sod-cutting ceremony on Monday, August 19, 2024, pending the resolution of outstanding issues.

However, in a statement, dated August 16, and signed by the Secretary to the President, Ambassador Nana Asante Bediatuo, the presidency maintained that all necessary processes for compulsory land acquisition have been duly complied with, including extensive stakeholder engagement.

Furthermore, the Presidency categorically denied the claim of land registration in the name of Awulae Annor Adjaye III, describing it as “palpably false”.

“In addition to that, this Office has had the opportunity to review all the documentation in respect of the Petroleum Hub project including the interlocutory injunction ruling given by the High Court, Sekondi on 22nd November 2021, confirming that the Petroleum Hub project should proceed.

“It is also noted that the 20,000 acres of land for the Petroleum Hub project is the subject of compulsory acquisition by the State in accordance with the Constitution and the Land Act, 2020 (Act 1036). All processes for compulsory acquisition under the law have been complied with thus far, including extensive stakeholder consultations. It is, thus, palpably false to state that the land in question is being registered in the name of Awulae Annor Adjaye III.

“In light of the above, your petition is accordingly dismissed. The President of the Republic will undertake the sod-cutting, as scheduled, for the commencement of the Petroleum Hub Project for the benefit of the country.”

“The petition had no evidence attached to substantiate the claims made, except 83 pages of a list of alleged signatories. The President also received a letter dated 16th August 2024, from the Western Nzema Traditional Council, under the hand of its President, Awulae Annor Adjaye III, containing a comprehensive response to the matters raised in your petition.

“The response from the Western Nzema Traditional Council denies the assertions in your petition and encourages the President to proceed with the sod-cutting ceremony on Monday, 19th August 2024 as the Petroleum Hub project is for the benefit of the people of Western Nzema.”

In response to the Presidency’s statement, the group expressed disappointment and concern over the apparent disregard for their concerns and the issues they raised.

“The President’s utter disregard and disinterest in understanding the genuine concerns of the people, rather rubbishing the hundreds of signatures and dismissing the petition with a simple “all processes for compulsory acquisition under the law have been complied with thus far, including extensive stakeholder consultation;” which is false, is rather concerning.

“Your action, Mr President, flouts our communities’ right to free prior and informed consent. Using the power of the state to perpetuate the land grab of community lands without informed consent and adequate generational compensation is an abuse of the UN guidelines on business and human rights and infringes on communities’ right to a healthy environment and land rights. Respectfully, Mr President, ignoring these genuine concerns and railroading the project will not be in anybody’s interest.”

The government through the Petroleum Hub Development Corporation (PHDC), aims to establish a private sector-owned $60bn Petroleum Hub on a 20,000-acre land in Jomoro Municipality, Western Region, Ghana.

 

 

 

 

 

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