President John Dramani Mahama has announced plans to restructure the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) to insulate it permanently from political interference, describing the move as a key step in strengthening Ghana’s petroleum sector and expanding domestic refining capacity.

The President made the announcement during a ceremony at TOR in Tema on Saturday, August 1, 2026, to commemorate the receipt and processing of the first shipment of Ghana’s Jubilee crude oil at the state-owned refinery.

“We will also restructure the Tema Oil Refinery in order that we permanently eliminate political interference in its work,” President Mahama said.

As part of the reforms, he directed the Minister of Energy and Green Transition to collaborate with the TOR Board and management to develop a strategic roadmap to increase the refinery’s processing capacity from its current 45,000 barrels per day to 100,000 barrels per day.

According to the President, the planned expansion aligns with the government’s broader ambition of positioning Ghana as a leading petroleum refining and logistics hub in West Africa.

President Mahama stressed the importance of strengthening local refining, noting that recent global geopolitical tensions had highlighted the need for countries to build resilient domestic energy systems.

“Because of the role that TOR and Sentuo have played, Ghanaians have hardly felt the effects of the Iran conflict,” he said.

He explained that the experience underscored the need for Ghana to expand its refining capacity and reduce dependence on imported petroleum products.

The President added that increasing domestic refining would enable the country to derive greater value from its crude oil resources through local processing while enhancing energy security.

He said the revival of TOR goes beyond restarting refinery operations, describing it as a strategic investment in Ghana’s industrialisation agenda and long-term economic growth.

The ceremony marked a significant milestone in the refinery’s recovery, with TOR receiving and processing its first shipment of Jubilee crude oil as part of efforts to restore sustained refining operations after years of limited activity.