But For Kofi Bentil, Me, and The OSP The Refinery Would Have Been Sold as Scrap – Franklin Cudjoe

In an Official Facebook Post by Franklin Cudjoe on 27 October 2026, the policy analyst and founding president of IMANI Africa offered a detailed reflection on the revival of the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR), attributing its turnaround solely to the current Managing Director and government. The post, captioned “BUT FOR Kofi Bentil, ME, AND THE OSP THE REFINERY WOULD HAVE BEEN SOLD AS SCRAP BY the last government”, was both assertive and reflective, dramatizing the contrast between past mismanagement and present reform.

Cudjoe argued that the previous administration pillaged TOR, attempted to sell it to cronies, and left it moribund with crippling debt. He recalled being invited in November 2025 by the new MD, Edmond Kombat Esq., to understand the revival efforts. In his words, TOR had been left as “a moribund debt‑soaked institution and a demotivated and partisan ageing staff,” burdened with $500 million in debt from what he described as “crookish high‑way paper robbery by kith and kin of the last guy who was also the Jubilee House overlord.”

By contrast, he praised Kombat’s leadership, noting that the young MD was restructuring debt, retrofitting the refinery with internally generated funds without borrowing, and earning the respect of technical staff who testified to the turnaround. He acknowledged the support of technically sound figures such as Nana Amoasi VII, CEO of the Institute for Energy Security.

Cudjoe’s tone was both critical and encouraging. He offered Kombat two words of advice: to leave a legacy through effective and efficient leadership so that his family and community would not be shamed like those associated with past looting of state funds. He concluded with a rallying call: “Kombat, please TOASO!”

This commentary reflects the theme of institutional reform and leadership accountability. Cudjoe’s post dramatizes the broader lesson that state institutions, even when abused and left for dead, can be revived through discipline, vision, and integrity.

At a deeper level, the post highlights the intersection of governance, resource management, and national pride. His frustration dramatizes the dangers of corruption and mismanagement, while his encouragement underscores the transformative potential of honest leadership.

Observers note that this debate resonates with wider concerns about the future of Ghana’s state‑owned enterprises (SOEs). Citizens increasingly demand that public assets be managed with professionalism rather than exploited for partisan gain. Cudjoe’s post channels this expectation, urging leaders to prioritize legacy over looting.

In conclusion, Franklin Cudjoe’s post “BUT FOR Kofi Bentil, ME, AND THE OSP THE REFINERY WOULD HAVE BEEN SOLD AS SCRAP BY the last government” — is both a rebuke and a celebration. It dramatizes the clash between past abuse and present revival, reminding Ghanaians that leadership grounded in integrity can breathe life into even the most battered institutions.

Source: Franklin Cudjoe, Official Facebook Post, 27 October 2026

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