Founding President of IMANI Africa, Franklin Cudjoe, has credited Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) Managing Director Edmond Kombat and the current NDC government with the refinery’s ongoing revival, accusing the previous NPP administration of leaving the state-owned facility in a moribund condition and attempting to sell it to cronies.

In a strongly worded Facebook post, Cudjoe argued that the previous administration should not receive credit for TOR’s current turnaround, claiming that the refinery could have been sold off as scrap without interventions by Kombat, himself and the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP).

“The Tema Oil Refinery revival is solely the work of the current MD and the government,” he wrote.

“The last administration pillaged, attempted to sell TOR to cronies and left TOR moribund. They can't be credited with any part of the current turnaround.”

Cudjoe made the remarks while revisiting his engagement with Kombat in November 2025, when the refinery’s managing director invited him to learn about efforts to restore the fortunes of the state-owned facility.

Recounting his assessment at the time, the IMANI Africa founder described TOR as a debt-laden institution struggling with low staff morale and what he characterised as partisan divisions among its ageing workforce.

He claimed the refinery had accumulated about US$500 million in debt, which he attributed largely to alleged financial misconduct involving individuals connected to the previous administration.

“A moribund debt-soaked institution and a demotivated and partisan ageing staff were the legacy of the other guys who left government last year,” he wrote.

Cudjoe further alleged that the debt resulted largely from what he described as questionable financial transactions involving associates of the previous president. However, his post did not include supporting financial records to substantiate the claims.

Despite the challenges, he said Kombat had begun restoring the refinery through debt restructuring, cost savings and the use of internally generated funds to upgrade its facilities.

“The new younger MD is slowly breathing life into an asset I would long have sold to competent private hands,” he wrote.

“He is restructuring the debt iceberg he met, thawed a little in a few millions saved. He is retrofitting the Refinery with internally generated funds, not borrowed a dime.”

Cudjoe said discussions with TOR’s technical staff had strengthened his confidence in management’s efforts, adding that the refinery was also benefiting from technical expertise, including that of Nana Amoasi VII, Chief Executive Officer of the Institute for Energy Security.

However, his account did not include audited financial statements, independently verified debt figures or operational data to establish the scale of the reported improvements.

Cudjoe said his advice to Kombat during their November 2025 meeting was to prioritise effective leadership and protect the refinery’s legacy from allegations of corruption and financial mismanagement.

“I had just two words of advice for the MD of Tema Oil Refinery, Edmond Kombat Esq.; leave a legacy through effective and efficient leadership so your children, family and village would not be shamed as others who looted state funds have rendered theirs. Good luck,” he wrote.

Ending his latest post with the words “TODAY. Kombat, please TOASO!”, Cudjoe renewed his public endorsement of the refinery boss and his reported efforts to turn around the company.

TOR, one of Ghana’s key petroleum infrastructure assets, has faced years of financial and operational difficulties. Its recovery remains important to discussions about domestic petroleum refining, energy security and the country’s ability to reduce reliance on imported refined petroleum products.

While Cudjoe’s comments offer a strong endorsement of the current management, his allegations against the previous administration and claims about the refinery’s financial recovery require independent verification through official records and statements from the parties concerned.



EA