President William Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo
President Nana Akufo-Addo has delivered a crushing blow to opponents of a controversial 20,000-acre land acquisition for a private-sector-led Petroleum Hub. In a stern message, the President, through his Ambassador and Executive Secretary, Nana Bediatuo Asante, dismissed a petition attempting to halt the project, branding it as “hollow and groundless.”
The petition, which was signed by numerous individuals, aimed to stop the compulsory acquisition of the land, citing a lack of due process and fair compensation. However, the President’s office wasn’t convinced, stating that the petition lacked any concrete evidence, apart from an 83-page list of signatories.
Backing the President’s stance, the Western Nzema Traditional Council, led by Awulae Annor Adjaye III, threw its weight behind the project, urging the government to proceed with the planned sod-cutting ceremony scheduled for Monday, 19th August 2024. According to the Council, the Petroleum Hub is set to benefit the people of Western Nzema and beyond, making the petition’s claims baseless.
The Presidency also emphasized that all legal requirements for the land acquisition, including stakeholder consultations, have been met. They referenced a 2021 High Court ruling that allowed the project to move forward, confirming that the land is being acquired in line with the Constitution and the Land Act of 2020.
In a final blow to the petitioners, the President’s office confirmed that the project will proceed as planned. The sod-cutting ceremony will mark the beginning of the Petroleum Hub, which is touted as a game-changer for Ghana’s energy sector.
For the petitioners, it’s a bitter defeat, but for the government, it’s full steam ahead on a project they claim will bring prosperity to the region.
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