No room for politics @TOR -Dapaah

The Energy Minister, Mr Albert Kan-Dapaah, has said the government will not allow partisan politics to destroy the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR), which is a strategic national asset.

?We?ll pursue policies which will serve the best interest of Ghanaians and not parochial ones,? he emphasised.

Mr Kan-Dapaah said this when he inaugurated the Interim Management Committee (IMC) of TOR in Accra yesterday.

The committee, which is chaired by Mr John Kofi Richardson, an industrialist, will, among other things, assist the government to look for a suitable candidate to take the position of the managing director of the refinery. Mr Kan-Dapaah said it will be most unproductive and ill-advised to allow partisan politics and, even worse, tribalism to dictate policy decisions on such a vital institution.

The Energy Minister said the products that flow out of the refinery are basic to the quality of life of the people, thus its continued survival and profitability should be the concern of all.

?The refinery provides good employment to a large number of our people in the refinery itself and at the petrol stations; not to talk of the tanker drivers and mates?, the minister added.

He emphasised that given its importance, the government can ill afford not to keep an eagle?s eye on the operations of the refinery, adding that ?in so doing, the government cannot be motivated by anything less than what is in the best interest of the nation?.

Mr Kan-Dapaah, therefore, described the speculations that followed the announcement of the changes in management of the refinery as most unfortunate. He reiterated that the changes were absolutely necessary to allow for efficient operations at the refinery.

On the recent impasse between management and workers of TOR, Mr Kan-Dapaah said calm has been restored between the two parties.

He explained that following consultations, the original proposal that the union and the Senior Staff Association of TOR be represented on the IMC, has been abrogated.

Mr Kan-Dapaah said the union and senior staff association are to be allowed to play their traditional roles outside the formal management structure. He expressed appreciation to the various stakeholders who assisted the government to forestall what he described as an unnecessary but costly confrontation.

Throwing more light on the duties of the IMC, Mr Kan-Dapaah said it will manage the refinery until a substantive managing director is appointed. He expressed the hope that with the integrity, maturity and expertise of the members of the IMC, all other matters will be handled to ensure the smooth operation of TOR.

A representative of the TOR union, Mr Maxwell A. Anane said the union is satisfied with the manner in which the impasse has been handled and that it is solidly behind management in its efforts to revitalise the company. Mr Richardson pledged to use his expertise in management to ensure the effective operation of TOR.