President of IMANI Africa, Franklin Cudjoe, has attributed the ongoing revival of the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) to the efforts of its current Managing Director, Edmond Kombat, and the government, arguing that the previous administration should not receive credit for the refinery’s reported turnaround.
In a social media commentary, Mr Cudjoe criticised the previous administration’s handling of the state-owned refinery, alleging that it left the institution in a weakened condition and attempted to sell it to associates.
He further claimed that without interventions by himself, Kofi Bentil and the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP), the refinery could have been sold as scrap under the previous government.
Mr Cudjoe said Mr Kombat invited him to the refinery in November 2025 to explain the measures being implemented to restore operations at what he described as one of Ghana’s most poorly managed state institutions.
Reflecting on that visit, the IMANI Africa president described TOR at the time as a debt-ridden institution with demotivated staff and significant operational challenges.
He alleged that the refinery had accumulated about US$500 million in debt, which he attributed largely to questionable financial transactions involving associates of the previous administration.
These allegations were not independently substantiated in the material provided.
According to Mr Cudjoe, Mr Kombat was gradually restoring the refinery’s operations by restructuring inherited debts, generating savings and undertaking rehabilitation works using internally generated funds rather than new borrowing.
He also said technical staff at the refinery had provided accounts of the operational improvements under the current management.
Mr Cudjoe acknowledged the contribution of technical expertise to the recovery efforts, specifically mentioning Nana Amoasi VII, Chief Executive Officer of the Institute for Energy Security.
He said he had advised Mr Kombat to focus on leaving a legacy of effective and efficient leadership, warning against the reputational consequences associated with the alleged mismanagement of public resources.
In his earlier remarks, Mr Cudjoe expressed hope that the Managing Director would continue implementing measures to improve the refinery’s operations and financial position.
In his latest commentary, Mr Cudjoe reiterated that the refinery’s current progress should be credited to Mr Kombat and the government, rather than the previous administration.
His comments add to the public debate over the management and recovery of TOR, a strategic state-owned facility whose operational performance and financial challenges have attracted considerable public attention.
