GOIL CEO praises Star Oil counterpart despite fierce market rivalry

Edward Bawa, the Chief Executive Officer of GOIL, recently expressed admiration for his rival at the fuel marketing company Star Oil, Philip Kwame Tieku. Despite the intense competition between the two businesses, Mr. Bawa noted that their relationship remains strictly professional. GOIL and Star Oil are vying for the same consumer base, employing various tactics to assert their dominance in the fuel market.

During a recent interview on Joy News’ PM Express Business Edition, Mr. Bawa emphasized that their business interactions have been cordial. "Our relationship has been businesslike," he stated. "They are competitors like us. They want to do well. All of us are competing for the same market, and we are using the strategies we find best to win that customer."

Mr. Bawa wished Mr. Tieku well but cautioned that GOIL would be challenging to beat. This assessment comes amid a burgeoning fuel market characterized by fierce rivalry between GOIL and Star Oil, both striving to offer the most competitive prices to attract customers. Star Oil has recently risen as a formidable contender in the retail fuel sector, leveraging aggressive pricing to exert pressure on GOIL and other established market leaders.

Despite the commercial tension, Mr. Bawa clarified that there is no personal animosity between him and Mr. Tieku. He revealed that, although they have not met in person, they maintain a friendly rapport through social media. Mr. Bawa's birthday wish from Mr. Tieku, he said, showcased the maturity of their business relationship. "I was touched when he wished me happy birthday on my birthday," said Mr. Bawa.

"That shows maturity. That irrespective of the fact that we are combatants in the business world, on a personal level we can still be friends. So there's a healthy relationship. It's a very healthy one."