Matthew Opoku Prempeh explains why TOR is in its current state and what needs to be done in an interview with Asaase News. He also criticizes TOR employees for their notorious conduct.
Matthew Opoku Prempeh, Ph.D.
The energy minister, Dr. Matthew Opoku Prempeh, has stated that there are better methods to handle the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) saga than dismissing over 600 employees suspected of stealing crude condensate worth $2.5 million.
Opoku Prempeh asked Beatrice Adu on the Big Bulletin on Wednesday (27 April), "Does this mean that every staff member who works within this process in all areas, including management, should be fired?"
"This did not vanish overnight; you cannot determine which employees caused the loss," he said.
He explained, however, that the state has given the management of the Tema Oil Refinery the responsibility of ensuring accountability.
"Yes, the Tema Oil Refinery faces some obstacles. But asking us to fire more than 600 people, including management and board members, is not the solution," he said.
The return of inefficiency at Ghana's oil refinery has prompted many to query why the government continues to invest in an entity that, according to the most recent report from the Finance Ministry, is performing poorly.