Stakeholders are finalizing plans for work to begin on an oil refinery at Pumpuni in the Ahanta West District of the Western Region.

The Chief of Akatakyi in the Ahanta West District, Nana Bozza IX, disclosed this last Saturday during a special thanksgiving service to mark the 23rd anniversary of his accession to the throne.

Sub-chiefs, queens and high-profile personalities, as well as citizens of the area, both home and abroad, attended the programme.

The oil refinery, when constructed, would process crude oil for local consumption and export to countries in the West African sub-region.

He told his subjects that by the grace of God he had been able to mediate and resolve all the disputes that characterized the acquisition of the site for the project in the area.

“And now I can say that Pumpuni is ready for the project. We will soon meet with the investors and assure them that Ahantas are ready for the project,” he declared.

The refinery, estimated to cost about $2 billion, would generate over 5,000 jobs and process 200,000 barrels of crude oil a day of which 30 percent would be used locally.

Nana Bozza commended the chiefs and people of Pumpuni for the release of about 1,017 acres of land for the project and enumerated the immense economic benefits that inure to the people of Ahanta and the country as a whole.

The Akatakyi chief, who played a major role in ensuring that the Takoradi Technical University obtains a campus in the area, was hopeful the university would be able to train qualified youth in the area for the refinery.

He also indicated that a skills training center would be constructed at Akatakyi to train the young ones to acquire skills so they could be self-employed.

He called on the people to continue to support him to bring more development to the community.

Nana Bozza mentioned that plans were underway to establish a petro-chemical industry in the area to create more jobs for the youth.

He expressed his heartfelt appreciation to God for protecting him, sub-chiefs and queens, which had enabled them to rule and achieve so much over the past years.

The Chief of Akatakyi said with God’s help, determination, selflessness and support from all, the needed change and progress would be realized.

According to him, under no circumstance should the rich culture of the people be neglected.