News
TOR plans to commence refinery operations in last quarter
The Managing Director of the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) Mr. Edmond Kombat has indicated that, they intend to commence refinery operations in October, 2025.
He made this statement when officials of TOR appeared before the Parliamentary Committee on Energy to brief the Committee on their mandate, work plans for the year 2025 as well as their operational challenges.
The Chairman of the Committee and MP for Ho West, Emmanuel Kwasi Bedrah, in his opening address indicated that,the engagement forms part of the Committee’s oversight responsibility of the agencies under the Ministry of Energy and Green Transition.
The MD in his presentation indicated that, they will continue with the Gantry and Terminal upgrade.
They will also complete ongoing projects commenced by the previous Administration as well as work on their debt and financial restructuring as well as retooling of their laboratory.
The MD made a special appeal to the Committee to help them resolve some of their challenges.
They include restructuring of their debts with the ESLA receivables,converting GOG debts into equity,reinstating the TOR portion of the ESLA Levy,allowing TOR to participate in the primary distribution margin,giving TOR a representation on the Laycan Committee among others.
A 30-year-old man has been sentenced to 25 years imprisonment with hard labour by the Bekwai Circuit Court for his role in a 2022 robbery at a mining site at Manso Akwasiso in the Ashanti South Region.
The convict, Dominic Ofori, also known as Fanta, was arrested on 16th February 2026 after years on the run. He pleaded guilty before the Bekwai Circuit Court to robbery contrary to Section 149 of the Criminal Offences Act, 1960 Act 29, and was accordingly sentenced to 25 years imprisonment with hard labour.
On March 20, 2022, the Manso Adubia District Police received intelligence that a group of armed men from Manso Abodom were planning to attack a mining site at Manso Akwasiso to rob the owner of gold concentrate. Acting on the information, police mounted a coordinated operation and laid an ambush at the site.
At about 5:30 pm the same day, four-armed men arrived at the site, fired indiscriminately, and robbed the miners of their gold concentrate. The police team on surveillance intervened, resulting in an exchange of gunfire.
Three of the suspects, Abu Abubakar, Musah Latif, and Gideon Takyi, sustained gunshot wounds and were pronounced dead on arrival at St Martins Catholic Hospital at Agroyesum. Dominic Ofori escaped at the time but was later arrested and put before the court.
The Ashanti South Regional Police Command has assured the public of its continued commitment to combating violent crimes and bringing offenders to justice.
The Ashanti Regional Police Command has arrested 45-year-old Isaac Boafo, also known as “Duabo King,” for allegedly publishing false news intended to cause fear and panic.
Police said the arrest follows a viral TikTok video in which Boafo claimed that four officers at the Central Police Station in Kumasi engaged in inappropriate conduct with commercial sex workers during night patrols in Asafo.
Officers from the Police Intelligence Directorate (Ashanti Region) apprehended Boafo after receiving intelligence about the video.
During questioning, he admitted to creating the video to attract views and engagement online, and acknowledged that he could not prove the allegations.
Boafo also admitted making comments about the President of the Republic for content purposes and could not defend those statements.
He has been formally charged and is in detention as investigations continue.
The Ashanti Regional Police have warned the public against publishing or sharing false information on social media, noting that such acts can cause fear, panic, and damage reputations.
They said anyone found engaging in similar conduct will face legal action.
By: Jacob Aggrey
