The Chairman of Parliament’s Energy Committee, Emmanuel Bedzrah, has called for the establishment of a dedicated funding mechanism to sustain the operations of the Petroleum Hub Development Corporation (PHDC), the entity spearheading Ghana’s strategic Petroleum Hub Project.
The Ho West MP proposed that a 10-pesewa deduction per litre of fuel, drawn from the margins within the Unified Petroleum Price Fund (UPPF)—currently administered by the National Petroleum Authority (NPA)—be directly allocated to the PHDC.
Speaking on the floor of Parliament on Friday, June 13, Mr. Bedzrah emphasized that the suggested allocation would enhance the long-term viability and operational effectiveness of the hub initiative, which seeks to position Ghana as a leading petroleum and petrochemical hub in West Africa.
“The Select Committee on Energy proposed that 10 pesewas from the Margins within the Unified Petroleum Price Fund, currently administered by the NPA, be allocated directly to PHDC,” he said.
He elaborated that the proposed funding stream would address three critical areas central to the project’s success:
“This funding will serve three vital purposes—sustaining PHDC’s operations to deliver on its mandate without interruption, supporting the payment of land compensation to project-affected persons and communities in line with legal and ethical obligations, and investing in the training and capacity building of Ghanaians to ensure that when investors arrive, we have a skilled workforce ready to meet demand across the petroleum value chain,” he explained.
The Petroleum Hub Project is a flagship government initiative aimed at attracting foreign direct investment, strengthening energy infrastructure, and expanding domestic capacity within Ghana’s oil and gas sector.
Despite its promise, the project has encountered notable challenges, including funding gaps, land acquisition delays, and concerns from affected communities. Mr. Bedzrah’s proposal is seen as a strategic move to overcome these hurdles and re-energize progress on the transformative initiative.