Star Oil Ghana Limited Rejoins COMAC, Demands End to Permanent Board Seats for Founding Members

Star Oil Ghana Limited has officially rejoined the Chamber of Oil Marketing Companies (COMAC) while simultaneously launching a forceful bid for institutional reform. In a letter dated October 1, 2026, CEO Philip Tieku announced the company’s return to the industry body, ending a membership suspension that began in January 2026. The move signals a strategic shift for the oil marketing firm, which had previously stepped away from the Chamber due to persistent concerns regarding governance and the lack of equitable representation among its members.

The crux of Star Oil’s return is a demand for a fundamental overhaul of COMAC’s board structure. Specifically, the company is advocating for the abolition of permanent board seats currently reserved for three founding members. CEO Philip Tieku argued that while these founding companies were instrumental in the early days of the Chamber, the existing arrangement has become outdated and no longer reflects the current dynamics of Ghana’s downstream petroleum sector. Star Oil contends that the concentration of power among a few historical players hinders broader participation and limits the effectiveness of decision-making within the industry.

By pushing for these changes, Star Oil aims to establish a more transparent and democratic process for board representation. The company believes that moving away from historical entitlements toward an elective system will enhance accountability and ensure that the interests of all oil marketing companies—regardless of their longevity—are equitably represented. According to Tieku, the decision to rejoin followed extensive consultations with various industry stakeholders and persuasive appeals from fellow members who share similar concerns about the need for a more responsive governance framework.

As Star Oil reintegrates into COMAC, the industry body faces a pivotal moment of self-reflection. The call for reform highlights a growing tension between traditional leadership structures and the evolving needs of a competitive and maturing petroleum market. The outcome of these advocacy efforts will likely determine whether COMAC can successfully evolve into a more inclusive entity capable of effectively championing the collective interests of all Ghanaian oil marketing companies in an increasingly complex economic landscape.