Energy Analysts Dr. Yusif Sulemana has formally taken over as the acting Managing Director of the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR). This was after a formal handing over programme on February 10, 2025 between the former Managing Director, Kofi Tagoe Mocumbi.

In a post on the company's website, Dr. Sulemana said the refinery has undergone transformation over the years, delivering excellence in the downstream sector from 1963.

He added the strategic intent is to ensure effectiveness and efficiency of the refinery’s operations, as it aligns with the company’s overall strategic imperatives, organizational capabilities and TOR’s vision of being the premier refinery, a pride for Ghanaians.

“People should come first, in our opinion; therefore, at the center of everything we do, are our stakeholders, which include our cherished staff members, business associates, clients and the communities we serve”, he said .

Challenges ahead

For many, his major challenge will be to turn around the dwindling fortunes of TOR and bring it back to full operations. 

This is a move, some industry persons have argued could favourably impact on the cost of petroleum products in the country. 

TOR over the years has struggled to operate at a full capacity, while some private firms have also entered into the refinery business.

Profile of Dr. Sulemana

Dr. Sulemana is an Energy Management Strategist and a seasoned global energy expert with over 20 years’ experience in the Energy industry encapsulating the Upstream, Mid-stream and the Downstream in areas of (Petroleum & Power) & Alternative Energy. Specialized in oil & gas production, oil refinery process systems optimization and systematic troubleshooting.

He is currently an active industry player within the upstream space with Petroleum Development Oman-PDO as a Sr. Oil & Gas Production Operations Specialist in the Sultanate of Oman. He previously also worked with Genser Energy as Project Manager (Gasification) and Tema Oil Refinery as a Chemical/Process Engineer.

Dr Sulemana holds a Doctorate Degree in Business Administration with a concentration in Energy Management from USA, MSc. in International Management in Oil & Gas from UK; and a BSc. in Chemical Engineering from KNUST-Ghana.

He has a high sense of integrity and committed to building and leading high performance teams, nurturing a culture of continuous improvement, and driving professional development.

Dr Sulemana has a special interest in STEM and mentors a broad-spectrum STEM professional. He is an ardent energy advocate and a subject matter expect in energy business in almost all the top media outlets in Ghana and was consequently adjudged the energy advocate of the year in the just ended Ghana Energy Awards ceremony.