The Overlord of Dagbon, Yaa Naa Mahama Abukari II, has offered his blessings and full support to the Managing Director of the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR), Dr. Yussif Sulemana.
Dr. Sulemana, who recently assumed office, makes history as the first Northerner to head the state-owned refinery, an achievement that has been warmly welcomed in the Northern Region.
On Saturday, April 19, Dr. Sulemana paid a courtesy call on the Overlord at the Gbewaa Palace to formally announce his appointment and seek royal blessings. The visit, deeply symbolic, underscored the importance of staying connected to one’s roots.
During the meeting, Yaa Naa Mahama Abukari II expressed joy over the development and urged Dr. Sulemana to justify the trust reposed in him by the President. He called on the new TOR boss to not only make the appointing authority proud but also serve as a beacon of excellence for the entire Northern Region.
The Overlord further encouraged Dr. Sulemana to distinguish himself in his new role and set a standard that could pave the way for more Northerners to rise to top positions in national institutions.
As the local saying goes, “No matter how high a bird flies, it will surely return to the ground”, a sentiment that was evident in the warm reception accorded Dr. Sulemana upon his return to Dagbon.
In response, Dr. Sulemana expressed heartfelt gratitude to the President for the opportunity and thanked the King and people of Dagbon for their prayers and unflinching support. He reaffirmed his commitment to serve with diligence and integrity and called for continuous support as he takes on the challenging task ahead.
“We are very much grateful to John Mahama for handing over the oil refinery to us. We thought it wise to bring it before our Overlord to put his blessing upon it, and from all indications, he has given us his total blessings. For us, it is overwhelming, and again, it assures us that people are praying for us. We are very much convinced that we are on the right course, and I think we will succeed at the end of the day.”
The new TOR MD also paid a visit to the Kuga Naa, who echoed the Overlord’s sentiments. The Kuga Naa emphasised the need for Dr. Sulemana to uphold integrity and urged him to focus on initiatives that would help tackle youth unemployment in the region.
Dr. Sulemana is an alumnus of Tamale Secondary School (TAMASCO), Class of 1999, a group he proudly represents. He was accompanied by several members of the year group, who joined in expressing gratitude to the President for the historic appointment.
Speaking on behalf of the delegation, Hajia Alhassan Faiza, Secretary of the 1999 year group, reaffirmed their support for Dr. Sulemana and pledged to rally behind him throughout his tenure.