The Energy Minister has sworn in an interim management committee to oversee activities at TOR following the dismissal of the managing director and his deputy
Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh, the Minister of Energy, has sworn in a three-member Interim Management Committee (IMC) to oversee the affairs of the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) as part of efforts to restructure and revamp the refinery.
The move follows the sacking of the managing director of the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR), Francis Boateng and his deputy Ato Morrison from the state refinery.
The chairman of the three-man IMC is Norbert Cormla-Djamposu Anku. The other members are William Ntim Boadu and Okyere Baffuor Sarpong.
The committee is tasked with ensuring a smooth transfer from the immediate past directors, undertake technical and human resource audits, and receive and assess viable partnerships if any for TOR.
Speaking after the swearing-in of the IMC, the Minister of Energy, Matthew Opoku Prempeh, stressed the need to find the right partnerships, managerial infrastructure and equipment to enable TOR to work as a strategic stakeholder in the oil and gas industries.
He urged members of the IMC to be diligent in their work and bring their rich experience to bear in discharging their mandate.
Dr Opuku Prempeh further urged the refinery staff to put all past rancour behind them, co-operate with the IMC and work hard to ensure TOR’s success.
Kwasi Obeng-Fosu, the public relations officer of the Energy Ministry, told reporters that the committee has been ordered to submit its report, including findings and recommendations, to the Minister of Energy within three months.
MD’s dismissal
Francis Boateng and his deputy, Ato Morrison, who have been at the helm of the troubled, state-owned refinery since May 2020, were reportedly served with dismissal letters on Friday (11 June 2021). The dismissals came directly from the Ministry of Energy, the Business and Financial Times said.
Their dismissal comes barely a month after reports suggesting that Ghana Water Company had cut water supply to the refinery over a GHC6 million debt.
Some players in the energy sector have raised concerns over the years about the dwindling fortunes of Ghana’s sole oil refinery.
Source: Ashantibiz
