We want someone who can turn the fortunes of TOR not profiteers – Workers lament

Workers of the ailing Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) have made a passionate appeal to the Akufo-Addo government to revive the refinery.

The workers say years after a series of promises, the refinery is still in a deplorable state.

Speaking to Ohene Kinnah on Plan B FM afternoon show ‘Ebaanosen’ , chairman of the General Transport and Chemical Workers Union, Bernard Owusu on stated that, they want someone who can turn the fortunes of the refinery to benefit the staff and the nation as a whole but not profiteers.

He said they will continue to mount pressure on the government to dissolve the current board and get rid of the managing director for TOR to be revived.

He believes the current happenings are as a result of selfish gains and mismanagement from the Managing Director Jerry kofi Hinson and the Board.

He stressed that   “We can’t sit down and allow people to do the wrong thing to affect the good people. We will ensure that TOR will come back to its normal state.”

“If the Minister of Energy says that about 2.5 million worth of condensate can’t be accounted for, then, the head of the institution, that is, the MD, should be fired. He should be investigated, and any worker involved should be dealt with. The union is prepared to support the Minister in that direction.

“When you see the flames out, then you know that the refinery is working. Currently, we are only carrying finished products which is not the core mandate of the refinery. The refinery is supposed to get crude oil to be refined.

“Sometimes it baffles our minds that as Ghanaians, we are getting crude here, and we can’t find crude oil to refine in our refinery, is a very serious matter that you, the media, and the Ghanaian out there should drum home. Please this is not only for workers of Ghana, this is the only refinery Osagyefo Dr. Kwame Nkrumah has been able to put down for us,” the Chairman of the General Transport and Chemical Workers Union said.

However, some stakeholders in the oil value chain are concerned that the non-operationalization of the refinery is also affecting the price of imported fuel.