The Member of Parliament for Jomoro, Dorcas Affo-Toffey, has welcomed the signing of the Phase Two agreement for Ghana’s US$28 billion Petroleum Hub project.
The MP, who is also the Deputy Transport Minister described the development as a significant opportunity to transform the local economy and create sustainable opportunities for residents of the constituency.
Madam Affo-Toffey joined 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 wider Nzema area for the signing ceremony.
The agreement, signed between the PHDC and an international consortium led by Global Sphere, is expected to advance the development of Lot Two of the strategic national project under a Build-Operate partnership arrangement.
The Petroleum Hub project is a major component of Ghana’s ambition to strengthen its position in the petroleum and energy industry.
Its development is expected to attract investment, support industrial growth and create opportunities across various sectors of the economy.
For Jomoro, the project holds particular significance because of its potential to stimulate economic activity, expand employment opportunities and accelerate infrastructure development within the constituency and the wider Western Region.
Speaking on the importance of the agreement, Madam Affo-Toffey emphasized that the project must translate into tangible benefits for the people of Jomoro, particularly the youth, local entrepreneurs and communities expected to be affected by its development.
She noted that the anticipated investment could open new pathways for young people to secure employment, acquire technical and professional skills, establish businesses and participate in the growing petroleum industry value chain.
The Jomoro MP further stressed the importance of ensuring that local businesses are positioned to benefit from the opportunities associated with the project, including the supply of goods and services, construction, logistics, technical support and other related activities.
She reaffirmed her commitment to advocating for policies and practical measures that would enable residents to participate meaningfully in the project rather than remain on the margins of the anticipated economic transformation.
According to her, the success of the Petroleum Hub should not be measured solely by the scale of investment it attracts, but also by its impact on livelihoods, household incomes, local enterprise development and the long-term economic prospects of communities in Jomoro.
The Deputy Minister also highlighted the importance of skills development and targeted training to prepare young people for employment opportunities that may emerge as the project progresses.
She called attention to the need for local participation in the emerging industrial value chain to ensure that the benefits of the investment extend beyond the project’s immediate operations.
The signing of the Phase Two agreement marks an important milestone in the development process, with expectations that the partnership will help move the next phase of the project forward.
As the project advances, stakeholder collaboration, effective implementation and sustained engagement with host communities will be important to ensuring that the anticipated economic and social benefits are realised.
Madam Affo-Toffey reiterated that she would continue to work with relevant government institutions, project authorities, traditional leaders and other stakeholders to advance the interests of the people of Jomoro.
She maintained that the constituency must be strategically positioned to take advantage of the opportunities the Petroleum Hub presents, particularly in employment, entrepreneurship, technical training and infrastructure development.
The Jomoro MP’s position reflects her broader commitment to promoting local economic development and ensuring that major national investments contribute directly to improving the lives of her constituents.
By 1960news.com
