The Ghana Petroleum Hub has received renewed backing from civil society, with the West African Regional Director of CUTS International, Appiah Kusi Adomako, urging government to take decisive steps to ensure the project becomes viable and competitive within the sub-region.
Speaking in an interview with Vaultz News during a strategic engagement between key Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) and the Petroleum Hub Development Corporation (PHDC), Mr. Adomako described the Ghana Petroleum Hub as a critical national investment that must not be delayed further.
“I think the Petroleum Hub project; it’s a project that the government of Ghana must put effort to ensure that the project becomes viable.”
Appiah Kusi Adomako, West African Regional Director of CUTS International
His comments come at a time when global oil markets are experiencing heightened volatility, driven largely by geopolitical tensions in the Middle East.
Global Uncertainty and Fuel Security Risks
Mr. Adomako linked the urgency of advancing the Ghana Petroleum Hub to the broader instability in global energy markets.
“You look at what is happening in the Middle East.
“The prices of crude oil have gone up. And if we don’t even take care, we may suffer fuel shortages beyond the five-week storage that we have.”
Appiah Kusi Adomako, West African Regional Director of CUTS International
Ghana currently maintains limited strategic petroleum reserves, making the country vulnerable to prolonged supply disruptions or price shocks.
According to the CUTS Director, a fully operational petroleum hub would strengthen the country’s refining and storage capacity, reducing dependence on imported refined products.
The project is envisioned as a large-scale integrated complex incorporating refineries, petrochemical plants and storage facilities designed to serve both domestic and regional markets.
Regional Refining Opportunity
Beyond domestic energy security, Mr. Adomako believes the Ghana Petroleum Hub could position the country as a regional refining centre.
“So if Ghana were to invest to have this petroleum hub functioning at its full capacity, I’m sure that we can have other countries like Nigeria, Angola, and even Côte d’Ivoire, all of them coming to refine their petrol here.”
Appiah Kusi Adomako, West African Regional Director of CUTS International
Such an outcome, he noted, would significantly boost Ghana’s influence within West Africa’s energy landscape and generate foreign exchange earnings.
The vision aligns with government’s broader ambition of transforming Ghana into a petroleum and petrochemical hub capable of serving the sub-region.
Jobs and Economic Expansion
Mr. Adomako emphasized that the benefits of the Ghana Petroleum Hub would extend beyond fuel processing.
“That will also help Ghana to create jobs around the petroleum value chain, and in the long run, we’ll be able to also expand, I mean, develop the economy because of this hub.”
Appiah Kusi Adomako, West African Regional Director of CUTS International
The project is expected to stimulate employment across engineering, logistics, transport, construction and other support services. It could also encourage the growth of ancillary industries tied to petrochemicals and manufacturing.
By deepening value addition within the petroleum sector, Ghana would be better positioned to retain more economic benefits locally rather than exporting crude and importing refined products at higher costs.
Declining Crude Production Not a Barrier
Addressing concerns about Ghana’s declining crude output, Mr. Adomako dismissed suggestions that falling production should undermine the hub’s prospects.
“One thing I also understood was that, of course, our level of crude that we are drilling is going down. But the hub is not meant to only rely on the crude oil from Ghana, but from other countries.”
Appiah Kusi Adomako, West African Regional Director of CUTS International
He cited the example of the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR), noting that when it was established under Kwame Nkrumah, Ghana had not yet discovered crude oil.
In his view, reliance on imported crude for refining is neither new nor unusual, and should not be used as justification to abandon the Ghana Petroleum Hub. “I think that we should give all the support to the government and allow the hub,” he added.
Despite his strong endorsement, Mr. Adomako expressed disappointment over delays in securing land for the project.
“For me, I am very much disappointed that for almost four years, government has not been able to pay for the compensation needed to be able to acquire the land. And I think that time is of essence.”
Appiah Kusi Adomako, West African Regional Director of CUTS International
He warned that prolonged delays could erode Ghana’s competitive advantage, especially if neighboring countries move ahead with similar initiatives.
“If we don’t take care and Côte d’Ivoire is able to set up the hub as a similar facility, this project will have to shut down because we will not have any advantages as a country.”
Appiah Kusi Adomako, West African Regional Director of CUTS International
His remarks highlight growing regional competition in the race to attract large-scale energy infrastructure investments.
A Call for Urgent Action
As discussions around the Ghana Petroleum Hub continue, Mr. Adomako’s intervention underscores the need for timely execution and sustained political commitment.
With global oil markets in flux and regional players eyeing similar opportunities, stakeholders argue that accelerating implementation could determine whether Ghana secures its place as a leading energy processing hub in West Africa.
For civil society and industry observers alike, the message is clear: the Ghana Petroleum Hub represents a strategic opportunity that requires urgency, coordination and unwavering support to translate ambition into tangible national gains.
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