In 2013, a project entitled “Petronia city“, started. The project is proposed 2000 acre city development project which aims to provide the first fully integrated business hub for West Africa’s oil, gas and mining industries.
It is located approximately 8 kilometers from Takoradithe capital of the Western Region of Ghana, which is rich in natural resources and strategically located on the Atlantic coast.
The project is to design and deliver residential, office, industrial, commercial, leisure and hospitality spaces for local and international businesses and residents.
But has the project become a white elephant similar to projects like Hope City?
Details
The project was founded by Wonda World Estatesa joint venture between a Ghanaian serial entrepreneur Nana Kwame Bediako and British multi-millionaire property developer Azad Cola, who owns the prestigious Westbury Hotel. The project is also supported by subsidiary Petronia City Development, which is responsible for the planning and execution of the city.
Digging deeper
The project was launched in 2013 to address the infrastructure deficit in the Western Region of Ghana following the 2007 oil discovery and the relative increase in socio-economic activity in the area. The project also aims to create a sustainable and inclusive city that will encourage innovation, collaboration and social development.
The project is planned to be carried out in phases, with the first phase being a 70-acre model of the entire complex, starting with the installation of world-class basic infrastructure. This phase will see the construction of commercial and residential facilities, including a four-star hotel with a 200-seat conference center, four office buildings with a total area of 22,000 square meters, schools and clinics, a leisure center, a shopping center, 25 executive villas with three and four bedrooms, and 140 studio, one, two and three bedroom apartments.
The second phase of the project will see the creation of West Africa’s first Energy City, which will serve as a major business hub and office park for international oil, gas and mining companies. Energy City will enable industry leaders in oil and gas exploration, production and related support services to collaborate and form a more efficient business community by leveraging shared resources, technology transfer and improved information flow.
The second phase will also include development Petronia City Golf City, the first of its kind in West Africa. Golf City will be a golf-centric community and tourist destination that will attract tourists from around the world. Golf City will have luxury villas and apartments, a boutique hotel, a club, retail and restaurants on 365 acres of beautiful grounds. Golf City is expected to host the only elite 18-hole championship golf course in the territory.
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The final phase of the project will include the development of the city’s light and heavy industrial zones. These zones will house power generation, water treatment, recycling plants and aluminum and bauxite production facilities. Light and heavy industrial zones will provide state-of-the-art infrastructure, reliable energy and access to resources and consumers for businesses looking to develop or enter industrial production.
What was said at the time
According Nana Kwame Bediakothe project is to convert the allotted area into “An industrial free trade zone and investment community, a Silicon Valley power city and a digital hub, with residential and commercial applications that we are only now in the process of fully exploring“.
Progress so far?
As of December 2023, significant development of the city has yet to begin. ONE Youtuber in 2021 went to visit the site and so far, work on the site seems to have stopped.
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![](https://techlabari.com/wp-content/uploads/2024/02/Screenshot-2024-02-10-132907.png)
Zoom out
The Pretoria City project is becoming similar to large-scale projects such as Hope City which unfortunately failed to take off.
After more than 10 years, we do not have sufficient information to conclude whether this project will continue or face permanent stagnation.
But we won’t be surprised if this project doesn’t pan out like others in the past.
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