StarOil Ghana Limited is set to rejoin the Chamber of Oil Marketing Companies (COMAC) after a nine-month absence.
However, this decision to return to the chamber is not coming cheap, but with a clear demand for reforms to how the industry body is governed and how members are represented.
In a letter dated October 1, 2026, and addressed to the Chief Executive Officer of COMAC, StarOil said it had decided to resume its membership after suspending its participation in January 2026 over concerns about the Chamber and the extent to which it represented the interests of its members.
The letter, signed by StarOil Chief Executive Officer Philip Tieku, said consultations with other oil marketing companies and industry stakeholders, together with appeals from fellow COMAC members, had influenced the company’s decision to reconsider its position.
Why StarOil Is Coming Back
StarOil said its return is driven by the need for a strong and united industry body capable of representing the collective interests of oil marketing companies.
The indigenous oil marketing company believes an effective COMAC is important for engaging regulators, government, and other stakeholders on issues affecting the downstream petroleum industry. But StarOil was quick to add that its decision to return is not simply a restoration of its membership.
The company sees its comeback as an opportunity to push for changes to COMAC’s governance arrangements. Central to its concerns is the Chamber’s constitutional provision that gives three oil marketing companies permanent representation on its board because they were founding members.
The Founders’ Advantage Under Scrutiny
StarOil acknowledged the important contribution made by the founding companies to the creation and development of COMAC. However, it questioned whether their historical status should continue to guarantee permanent board representation in an industry that has evolved considerably since the Chamber was established.
StarOil argues that board representation based solely on founding status risks creating a governance structure that may not adequately reflect the interests and composition of the wider membership.
The company cannot fathom why influence within an industry association should remain permanently tied to who helped establish it, arguing that representation should evolve with the membership and the industry itself.
Return With a Reform Agenda
StarOil said its return should therefore be viewed as more than simply resuming membership and board participation. The company intends to work with other COMAC members to make the Chamber more representative, responsive and effective.
Its position also places governance reform firmly on the agenda as StarOil rejoins an industry body that plays an important role in representing oil marketing companies and engaging policymakers and regulators.
The company’s return could consequently provide an opportunity for COMAC members to revisit how leadership and representation are structured, while preserving the institutional contribution of its founding members.
For now, StarOil may have returned to the industry table, but it is aiming to use that position to help build a Chamber where representation reflects the interests of its current membership, not only its history.
