President John Dramani Mahama has called on African nations to take firm control of their future, urging greater unity, resilience, and collaboration across the continent to drive sustainable development.

 

Speaking at a state banquet held in honour of Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa, President Mahama said Africa is at a pivotal moment in its history, where collective action and shared vision are crucial.

 

“Africa stands at a defining moment in its journey. Across our continent, there is renewed determination to shape our own destinies, to tell our own story, and to build resilient and prosperous societies,” he stated.

 

He emphasized that deeper cooperation among African countries remains key to unlocking economic growth and addressing common challenges. He pointed to the strengthening relationship between Ghana and Zimbabwe as a clear example of what continental partnerships can achieve.

 

“Tonight, we are not only honoured by your visit, but we also celebrate a partnership that continues to evolve,” he said. “We reaffirm our shared commitment to deepening this cooperation, particularly in trade, investment and economic transformation.”

 

He added that both nations are committed to translating their longstanding historical ties into tangible benefits for their citizens.

 

“Our two countries recognize the immense opportunities before us, and we are determined to translate our historic ties into tangible benefits for our people,” Mahama noted.

 

The President also revealed that Ghana and Zimbabwe would engage in bilateral talks aimed at strengthening cooperation, with plans to formalize agreements.

 

“Tomorrow, at the historic Peduase Lodge, we will hold bilateral meetings between our two countries and look forward to signing a number of Memoranda of Understanding that will bring us even closer together,” he said.

 

Mahama further commended Zimbabwe’s resilience in the face of prolonged economic sanctions, describing the country as a symbol of endurance on the continent.

 

“No other country has experienced this more than Zimbabwe, living under sanctions for so many years,” he remarked.

 

He stressed that partnerships among African nations are increasingly vital in reinforcing shared history and collective aspirations.

 

“In this context, partnerships such as that between Ghana and Zimbabwe take on even greater significance. They remind us that while geography may separate us, history and indeed destiny bind us together,” he said.

By : Sarah Adwoa Akuetteh

The Managing Director of  Oil Refinery, Edmond Kombat, has revealed the scale of operational and financial challenges the refinery faced prior to its recent revival, describing the situation as “depressing” and nearly beyond recovery.

Speaking during an engagement with fellows of the African Extractive Media Fellowship (AEMF), Kombat traced the refinery’s trajectory from a relatively stable position in 2016 to what he described as a near-collapse state by 2024.

According to him, TOR’s debt, which had been reduced from $650 million to about $300 million before 2017, ballooned again to approximately $517 million over the following years, accompanied by operational shutdowns, poor maintenance, and rising liabilities.

He further disclosed that the refinery accumulated significant financial obligations, including debts to the Ghana Revenue Authority, ECG, Ghana Water, and staff-related funds, while also recording years of unaudited accounts and massive cumulative losses. At the same time, critical infrastructure such as storage tanks and processing units were left non-functional, with 17 tanks reportedly out of service and key plants idle.

Kombat painted a picture of an institution plagued not only by financial distress but also internal divisions, low staff morale, and a high attrition rate, with skilled workers leaving for opportunities in international markets, including the Middle East and larger refineries like Dangote. “The place was so depressing that it almost looked like there was no way out,” he admitted.

However, since assuming leadership, he says management has focused on rebuilding the refinery through internal reforms rather than relying on immediate government funding. “Central to this effort was restoring staff confidence and addressing longstanding human resource concerns, including stalled promotions. Over 300 staff petitions were reviewed, leading to promotions and salary adjustments aimed at rebuilding trust and productivity” he said.

With limited financial capacity, the refinery adopted unconventional strategies to generate revenue. These included extending operational hours, attracting regional clients such as Burkina Faso for petroleum storage services, and rebuilding confidence among private petroleum service providers. According to Kombat, these measures helped stabilize revenue streams and support initial restoration works.

A major milestone in the refinery’s recovery came on December 19, 2025, when TOR resumed refining operations after years of inactivity. The primary processing unit, known as the Crude Distillation Unit (CDU), was successfully restored by in-house engineers without external technical support. Ongoing works are also targeting the secondary processing unit (RFCC), which is expected to further enhance output and product value.

Beyond operations, management has initiated efforts to restore critical infrastructure, including rehabilitating storage tanks, modernizing the loading gantry, and recruiting new staff to address an aging workforce. Edmond Kombat noted that over 400 temporary workers and 300 permanent staff have been engaged as part of this rebuilding phase.

He emphasized the strategic importance of TOR to Ghana’s energy security, highlighting its unique capacity to produce aviation fuel and premix fuel, as well as its extensive storage and distribution infrastructure. With storage capacity estimated at one million metric tonnes and connections to key national and regional supply routes, the refinery remains central to the country’s petroleum supply chain.

The Managing Director also warned that neglecting such an asset could have serious consequences, particularly in times of global supply disruptions. He pointed to geopolitical tensions as a reminder of the need for strong domestic refining capacity and adequate fuel reserves.

While acknowledging progress, he maintained that the refinery’s recovery is still in its early stages. “We are just scratching the surface,” he said, stressing the need for continuity in management and policy direction to sustain the gains made so far.

President John Dramani Mahama has assented to five major bills, introducing sweeping reforms across Ghana’s security architecture, tertiary education system, mining fiscal framework, and financial sector protections.

Addressing the development, President Mahama said the newly passed Security and Intelligence Agencies Act, 2026, marks a significant restructuring of the country’s intelligence governance system.

“This Act removes the office of the Minister for National Security and, in doing so, frees the President’s hand to appoint any suitable minister to supervise the security agencies,” he stated.

He further explained that the legislation restores the original identity of the national intelligence service. “It reverts the name of the NIB, the National Intelligence Bureau, to the Bureau of National Intelligence—BNI—so that we eliminate the confusion that existed with a similarly named commercial bank,” the President added.

On higher education reform, President Mahama announced the passage of the University of Engineering and Agricultural Sciences Act, 2026, which establishes a new multi-campus university in the Eastern Region.

“We are setting up a new university at Bonsu as the main campus, with additional campuses at Ohawu and Achirensua in the Ahafo Region,” he said.

Turning to the mining sector, the President outlined changes under the Growth and Sustainability Levy Amendment Act, which adjusts the fiscal regime for mining companies.

“We have reduced the levy on mining companies from 3 percent back to 1 percent, in view of the introduction of a sliding scale royalty system,” he noted.

He explained that the adjustment is designed to improve balance and predictability within the sector. “The objective is to align our fiscal tools in a way that supports sustainability while maintaining competitiveness,” he added.

In the education regulatory space, the President also signed the Ghana Education Regulatory Bodies (Amendment) Act, which removes the requirement for universities to obtain a charter before commencing operations.

“We are streamlining the process to make it easier for legitimate institutions to be established and regulated effectively,” he explained.

Finally, President Mahama assented to the Ghana Deposit Protection (Amendment) Act, aimed at strengthening safeguards for depositors and enhancing confidence in the financial system.

“This amendment reinforces the protection of public deposits held in commercial banks and financial institutions, ensuring greater confidence in our financial system,” he stated.

He said the collective reforms reflect government’s broader commitment to institutional strengthening and economic stability.

“These Acts form part of our broader agenda to modernise governance, improve efficiency, and build resilient public institutions,” President Mahama concluded.