In Ghana’s energy landscape, a quiet revolution is unfolding. It is not marked by noise or political fanfare, but by calm, deliberate change. 

At the centre of this revolution is Afetsi Awoonor, the man steering affairs of the state-owned Bulk Oil Storage and Transportation Company, now BOSTenergies, into a new era of innovation, discipline, and purpose.

When Mr Awoonor received his appointment under the new NDC administration led by H.E. John Dramani Mahama in January 2025, it did not spark the usual political uproar. He was not a frontline politician, and so his arrival at the helm of BOST drew neither party jubilation nor partisan tension. His applause came quietly from the business community, colleagues, and those who had worked alongside him in the private and public sectors.

Still, there was curiosity and scepticism. Many wondered how a man so reserved, so unassuming, would fare in an institution that had long been a battleground of political interests. 

Those who knew him better understood that his calm was not timidity, it was confidence built over two decades in the private sector and nearly a decade in public and energy administration. What many underestimated was the depth of his experience and his quiet determination to reform BOST from the inside out.

One of his earliest acts as Managing Director was to reimagine BOST’s corporate identity. Under his direction, the company embraced a new name — BOSTenergies — reflecting a strategic shift toward sustainability and innovation. 

The name change was not cosmetic; it was symbolic of his intent to weave green energy and environmental responsibility into the company’s value chain.

This rebranding was followed by careful organisational restructuring, streamlining departments, and introducing new units to enhance productivity, transparency, and operational efficiency. 

Perhaps the most forward-looking moves in my estimation were the creation of a Green Energy and Transition Department, charged with embedding sustainability and ESG principles into BOST’s operations. 

For an institution long associated with fuel storage and distribution, this represented a bold cultural shift — from a traditional energy enterprise to a modern energy solutions company aligned with global environmental standards.

Under Awoonor’s guidance, BOSTenergies has actively sought partnerships that build synergy, share expertise, and strengthen Ghana’s energy infrastructure. In July 2025, BOSTenergies and the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) signed a Memorandum of Understanding to enhance technical and commercial cooperation — a landmark agreement aimed at revitalising the downstream petroleum sector 

Afetsi Awoonor’s leadership is neither loud nor flamboyant. It thrives on quiet conviction, systems thinking, and strategic patience. In a political landscape often driven by noise, his steady hand and reformist vision stand out. 

For BOSTenergies, the transformation is far from over. Yet beneath the surface of its new name and restructured departments lies something deeper —a company rediscovering its national purpose under a man who believes that true change begins with quiet work and sustained vision.

Author: Ibrahim Adle, A senior research and policy associate with the Institute for Energy Security, Ghana.