Accra, Ghana – In a notable development, Afetsi Awoonor, son of the late renowned Ghanaian poet Prof Kofi Awoonor, has been appointed as the acting Managing Director of the Bulk Oil Storage and Transportation Company (BOST). This pivotal decision was formalized through an appointment letter signed by Secretary to President John Mahama, Dr Callistus Mahama. The appointment is in accordance with Article 195(1) of the Constitution, pending consultations with the Public Services Commission and the awaited guidance from the Minister for Energy and Green Transition.
Awoonor assumes the leadership position at BOST following the tenure of Edwin Alfred Provencal, which was marred by a series of corruption allegations. Provencal, the third and final MD under the previous administration, replaced the initial boss Alfred Obeng Boateng, who was embroiled in a scandal involving the sale of contaminated fuel. Subsequently, Provencal’s successor, George Mensah Okley, resigned in 2019 amidst purported contract-related issues.
A young and accomplished business leader and entrepreneur, Awoonor boasts nearly two decades of valuable experience in steering diverse teams and projects within both the private and public sectors. In his previous role as a senior partner at DOC Africa, he revolutionized Liberia’s mining initiatives, yielding projected revenues exceeding $2 billion through innovative contractual frameworks. Awoonor is recognized as a distinguished senior executive renowned for his transformative influence in the extractive industries of sub-Saharan Africa, encompassing oil, gas, and mining.
His extensive expertise encompasses energy strategy, financial modeling, supply chain management, and fostering strategic relationships, consistently driving operational excellence and delivering exceptional financial outcomes. Awoonor’s leadership has been instrumental in shaping groundbreaking projects, ranging from optimizing national petroleum reserve programs to crafting pioneering mining agreements that have contributed substantially to revenue generation. His profound regional knowledge spans over 20 African nations, augmented by a global impact that extends to prestigious speaking engagements at premier forums in Switzerland, the USA, and South Africa.
Having previously served as the government relations and business development manager at BOST in 2016 under the leadership of Kingsley Awuah Darko, Awoonor played a decisive role in spearheading Ghana’s inaugural Strategic Petroleum Reserve Programme during the incumbent president’s first term. He held pivotal responsibilities as the Government Relations Manager at BOST, overseeing governmental and commercial interactions.
Awoonor’s appointment aligns with the president’s overarching vision of empowering young talents to contribute to national development. With a proven track record in structuring, negotiating, and implementing strategic partnerships across Africa, particularly in the energy and defense sectors, Awoonor brings a wealth of expertise to his new role. Notably, he established JBW Limited in 2011, a pioneering defense and energy tech startup operating across Ghana, Liberia, and Sierra Leone, where he currently serves as the Chairman of the Board.
Amidst this significant development, the Senior Staff Union of BOST has extended heartfelt felicitations to the newly appointed MD, expressing unwavering confidence in Awoonor’s illustrious career trajectory. The union anticipates that his extensive experience will be instrumental in steering BOST towards a prosperous future, and has pledged full support and collaborative engagement to advance the company’s strategic objectives.
Furthermore, the union commended President Mahama for appointing Awoonor to this pivotal role, underscoring the president’s commitment to entrust highly qualified individuals with leadership roles in critical institutions across Ghana.