NPA boss denies allegations by TOR workers

The National Petroleum Authority (NPA) boss has debunked assertions he is scheming to have the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) sold.

Alex Mould was accused by TOR workers of plotting with other political “mafias” to have the refinery sold for their own selfish ends.

According to the workers who spoke to Joy News’ Eric Ahianyo, the NPA boss owns Eco Petroleum, a bulk distribution company (BDC), which buys finished petroleum products from abroad and sells it to TOR.

The workers say it is in the interest of Mr Mould and several of his political cronies who own similar BDCs to have TOR in its current state of paralysis or completely sold just so they could make more money by importing the finished products instead of refining them in Ghana.

On Joy FM’s Top Story programme, one of the leaders of the workers union, Daniel Fugar told Evans Mensah they have reason to believe that the Eco Petroleum is owned by Mr Mould.

He could not produce any evidence to back his allegation, except to add that the NPA boss has shown little interest in reviving the ailing refinery.

He said Mr Mould had in an interview proposed for the sale of the refinery and that was a firm basis for their suspicion.

But the NPA boss has vehemently dismissed the allegations.

The Public Relations Manager at the NPA, Yaro Kasambata, told Joy News the allegations have no basis.

He said his boss does not own the Eco Petroleum, adding Alex Mould never called for an outright sale of TOR.

He explained the NPA boss only made a proposal to government to either recapitalise the refinery or have it run privately.

Meanwhile, government has begun a process of recaptilising the refinery with an amount of GHC30 million.

It is expected to begin operation next week.