Akufo-Addo Will Break Ground For Forward Operating Base In Jomoro

Deputy Minister for Defence, (Rtd) has assured that President Akufo-Addo will by the end of 2019 cut sod for the commencement of the much-awaited Forward Operating Base (FOB) to protect the country's oil resources at Ezinlibo in Jomoro Municipality of Western Region.

The project is expected to cost the country 200million dollars.

The move follows Ghana’s historic victory over neighbouring Cote d’Ivoire in 2017 at the Special Chamber of the International Tribunal of the Law of the Sea (ITLOS) in Germany, during a three-year maritime boundary dispute.

Forward Operating Base (FOB) is any secured forward operational level military position commonly used as a military base to support strategic goals and tactical objectives.

The Chiefs and people of Ezinlibo and it's surrounding communities have therefore released a vast land to Ghana Government to start the project.

Handing over the site plan to the Chief of Ezinlibo, the Deputy Minister for Defence, Major Derrick Oduro said President Akufo-Addo was ready to break ground for the project to commence as soon as the contractors finished with clearing the land.

He disclosed that the project was going to change the face of Ezinlibo and it's surrounding communities.

He said it would create employment for the unemployed youth in the area.

He, therefore seized the opportunity to urge the contractors to give major part of the artisan work and labour activities to locals.

He also called on the people to cooperate with the contractors to execute the project based on the scheduled.

On his part, the Member of Parliament for Jomoro, Hon. Paul Essien applauded President Akufo-Addo for thinking about the good people of the area through the establishment of the project.

He said the project would be a game changer and create job opportunities for his people.

He disclosed that aside the Forward Operating Base (FOB), the government has planned to establish five petrochemical industries, two harbours, fertilizer plant among others, all within the Jomoro oil enclave.

The MP who is also the Deputy Minister for Chieftaincy Affairs appealed to the people in the area to support the contractors assigned to the project do a good job.

He used the occasion to commend the former Chief of Defence Staff under President Atta Mills, who is also the son of Ezinlibo, General Peter Augustine Blay, for an enviable role played in the realisation of the project.

On his part, the former Chief of Defence Staff, General Peter Augustine Blay, expressed satisfaction in the manner stakeholders have handled the project.

To this end, he charged his people to remain resolute as Government seriously work to construct the much-awaited Forward Operating Base.

He said any major project of that magnitude will take time especially when it comes to preparation and planning.

He pledged his commitment to provide any assistance to make sure the project was executed expeditiously to benefit the country especially Jomoro residents.

The Chief of Ezinlibo, Nana Kolera Blay IV said signs that he has picked indicate that the project would see the light of day.

He disclosed that the plan for the project started ten years ago commending President Akufo-Addo for thinking about them.

He said they were more than ready to support the contractors to execute this task.

Nana Kolera Blay IV appealed to the contractors to employ more youth in the area when the actual construction work starts.

He also urged government to consider some of the youth to be recruited into the military to also work at the Forward Operating Base in future.

Speaking to the Executive Director of Amandi, Dror Tahar assured that they were going to expedite action on the land preparation to pave way for President Akufo-Addo to cut the sod for the project.

He said they were going to work in the line of the local content policy and give 98 per cent of the construction work to the locals.

He, therefore called on the residents to support them to execute the project to benefit them and the country at large.