The Chamber of Oil Marketing Companies (COMAC) has indicated that it is taking steps to re-establish dialogue with Star Oil Limited following the company’s decision to suspend its membership of the industry body.

COMAC says its Board, under the leadership of the Chairman, has already set in motion internal mechanisms to engage Star Oil and persuade the company to reconsider its position.

The Chamber maintains that its governance structures are designed to promote consultation and consensus-building rather than unilateral decisions on industry matters.

Speaking in an interview on Citi FM on Wednesday, January 21, the Chief Executive Officer of COMAC, Dr Riverson Oppong, confirmed that efforts are underway to reopen discussions with Star Oil, stressing that differing viewpoints within the industry should not be misconstrued as hostility.

“We will engage Star Oil. The Board Chairman has initiated processes to reach out to them and encourage a reconsideration of their decision,” Dr Oppong said, noting that managing the interests of over 200 oil marketing companies inevitably involves reconciling varied and sometimes competing perspectives.

He acknowledged that disagreements are part of any large association but insisted they should not lead to a breakdown in relationships.

“Our interests may clash at times, but that does not make us enemies,” he remarked.

Dr Oppong also disclosed that the Chamber’s Board is expected to meet to deliberate further on the matter, adding that he was personally disappointed by Star Oil’s decision to suspend its membership rather than continue to pursue its concerns through COMAC’s established structures.

“I would have preferred that Star Oil stayed within the Chamber and represented its interests at the Board level, so that decisions could be taken collectively,” he said.

Star Oil Limited earlier announced an indefinite suspension of its membership of COMAC, a move that has sparked considerable discussion within Ghana’s downstream petroleum industry.