Gov't is scheming to sell TOR to cronies - NPP

The minority in parliament has accused the government of scheming to sell the only state-run oil refinery in Ghana to its cronies.

Presenting what the caucus terms the 'true state of the nation address' at a news conference in parliament on Wednesday, minority leader Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu said a recent suggestion by the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) CEO that the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR)be privatised is part of a grand conspiracy to sell the asset to NDC business moguls.


The caucus also accused the government of deliberately crippling the refinery so as to pave the way for its cronies to benefit from importation of finished petroleum products into the country.


The minority leader began his address by attacking the government over the recent fuel prices hikes.


“Today the NDC is citing smuggling as one of the major reasons to remove subsidies,” Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu said.

“The NDC has not only exhibited bad faith and incompetence in the management of the petroleum sector and the associated price adjustments, but also scheming to sell a vital national asset like TOR".


The minority also accused the government of losing control of the energy sector thus plunging the country into the current energy crisis.


The minority attributed the crisis to what it described as negligence by the government.


Osei Kyei Mensah Bonsu also accused the government of deceiving the country with several claims and promises of an end to the load-shedding exercise since the first quarter of last year.