The Coalition of Concerned Nzema People (CCNP) has accused the government of breaching a key commitment by failing to constitute an independent Land Committee to address contentious land issues surrounding the proposed Petroleum Hub project in Jomoro.
The group warned that the continued inaction undermines due process, threatens local ownership rights, and erodes public trust in state institutions.
The coalition recalled that during a meeting on March 18, 2025, with officials from the Office of the President, an agreement was reached for the formation of a Land Committee within three to four weeks.
The committee was expected to investigate and clarify the status of all lands affected by the Petroleum Hub project – whether they are stool lands, family lands, or public lands – and ensure transparent engagement with rightful landowners.
“Three months have now passed. The committee has not been constituted,” the coalition declared in its press statement.
According to the CCNP, a follow-up reminder was sent to the Minister for Lands on April 15. A response was received the following day, requesting the coalition’s nominee for the committee, which was submitted promptly. However, no further steps have been taken to establish the full committee, despite the critical importance of its mandate.
“PHDC officials, in concert with certain traditional authorities and state actors, have undertaken engagements and public visits aimed at promoting land access without resolving the underlying ownership disputes and community concerns”
Coalition of Concerned Nzema People
In what the group described as a “troubling disregard for due process,” the Petroleum Hub Development Corporation (PHDC) has allegedly proceeded with activities that effectively sidestep the yet-to-be-constituted committee.
The CCNP warned that such unilateral actions, especially in the absence of a legitimate land resolution process, could misinform the public, marginalise rightful landowners, and entrench a false sense of consensus.
It added that this risks creating further divisions in an already sensitive context, where questions of land ownership and historical claims carry deep socio-cultural implications.
Citing this breakdown of trust and deviation from the agreed path, the CCNP is now demanding urgent and concrete action from the Chief of Staff and the Ministry of Lands and Natural Resources.
“The Land Committee must be constituted immediately to ensure that justice, fairness, and transparency are not sacrificed in pursuit of expediency”
Coalition of Concerned Nzema People
In addition to the call for the committee’s immediate formation, the coalition is also requesting a complete suspension of all PHDC activities in the Jomoro area. These include public engagements, site visits, and land-related negotiations.
The CCNP stressed that continuing such activities in the absence of oversight from the promised committee “would not only be premature but also a grave betrayal of the principles of due process and good faith.”
The group argued that the Petroleum Hub, if implemented without clarity on land status and community consent, risks becoming another chapter in a long history of disputed state acquisitions in Ghana.
They insisted that any future development must be anchored in lawful procedures, transparency, and inclusive consultation with the affected communities.
While the NDC government has made strides in infrastructure, transparency, and participatory governance since its 2025 return to office, the coalition contended that this situation presents a key test of whether promises made to local stakeholders will be backed by firm action.
“The failure to act now risks not just undermining the Petroleum Hub’s legitimacy, but also deepening historical grievances that could destabilise the region in the long term”
Coalition of Concerned Nzema People
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