Ghana set to become the petroleum hub in West Africa – Mahama

President John Dramani Mahama says everything is set for Ghana to become the hub of petroleum in the West Africa sub-region.

According to him, considering the current operation and storage capacity of the Bulk Oil Storage and Transportation Company Limited (BOST) as well as the revamped Tema Oil Refinery (TOR), nothing can stop the country from exporting oil to its neighbors.

President Mahama made this comment when he addressed an over one thousand people comprised of government officials, students and faculty heads of the University of Cape Coast in the school on the theme: Rising opportunities, entrepreneurship, and a changing Ghana.

BOST’s contract with neighboring Cote D’Ivoire in which the Ghanaian company is expected to supply about 35, 000 of petroleum products is a good news, he said.

This he said has helped to place the country: “Well on the way to a major petroleum distribution in the sub-region”.

He lauded the turn-around success story of TOR in which the then defunct company is now refinancing its debts and repairing its storage facilities for the resumption of petroleum storage and its related products.

President Mahama said this feat of TOR will giantly help the company to: “Recapture its glory days as envisioned by our [Ghana] founder Dr. Kwame Nkrumah”.

One after the other, he recounted how the social intervention programs put out by previous governments have helped the country fend off poverty and its related hardships.

He, however, did not mince words when he told the crowd that amongst all the achievements of his predecessors, those of his government stand tall.

To a deafening applause from the crowd amidst smiles, the President said the Ghana cedi which has for the past months struggled behind the US dollars is "stabilizing".

He also explained since the start of 2016, his government has been living within its means by ensuring that it pays all of its expenditures using revenues generated in the country.

Delving into the International Monetary Fund (IMF)'s program with the government, President Mahama said he is committed to the "Zero percent borrowing from the Central Bank".

He acknowledged many government's decisions come with some dire consequences on the population but expressed confidence in Ghanaians. He thanked Ghanaians for solidly standing behind his government to lead the nation into the "society of prosperity".

He called on Ghanaians to support his second term bid so that he will be able to complete his “Agenda for Transformation” promise.

Story by Ghana | Myjoyonline.com | Austin Brako-Powers | Email: [email protected]