The successful return of the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) to full operations should not only be celebrated as the revival of one of Ghana's most strategic national assets, but also serve as a compelling blueprint for a new approach to reforming state-owned enterprises through strategic partnerships.

President John Dramani Mahama, in a handwritten message entered into the refinery's record book during the commissioning of the refurbished Crude Distillation Unit (CDU), described TOR's resurgence as "very impressive evidence of what vision, leadership, management, talent, experience and strategic partnerships can achieve."

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The President also noted that it "has brought to all of us the hope that made the impossible possible," adding that the model should be extended to other industrial groups through strategic partnerships.

The remarks have since reinforced growing calls for the government to pursue similar partnership models to revive other struggling state-owned enterprises. Speaking at the commissioning ceremony on Monday, August 3, 2026, President Mahama attributed TOR's remarkable turnaround to the collective efforts of management, the board, workers and strategic partners.

"To the glory of God, a determined management and board, together with dedicated workers and strategic partners, have turned the fortunes of this refinery around," he said.

The President further disclosed that the refinery's revival was achieved without direct financial support from the state.

"TOR has achieved all this on its own. The Government of Ghana has not put a single cedi into this rebound," he stressed.

The commissioning also marked the successful processing of one million barrels of locally produced Jubilee Field Medium Sweet Crude oil into finished petroleum products, signalling a significant milestone in the refinery's return to full-scale operations.

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