Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh, the Minister of Energy, has sworn in a three-member Interim Management Committee (IMC) to oversee the affairs of the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) as part of efforts to restructure and revamp the refinery.

The move follows the sacking of the managing director of the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR), Francis Boateng and his deputy Ato Morrison from the state refinery.

The chairman of the three-member IMC is Nobert Cormla-Djamposu Anku. Other members are William Ntim Boadu and Okyere Baffuor Sarpong.

The committee is to ensure the smooth transfer from the outgone directors, undertake technical and human resource audits as well as receive and assess viable partnerships for TOR if any.

Speaking after the swearing-in of the IMC, Dr Matthew Opoku Prempeh noted that the need to find the right partnerships, managerial infrastructure and equipment to enable TOR to work as a strategic stakeholder in the oil and gas sector.

He urged the IMC to be diligent in their work and bring their rich experience to bear in discharging their mandate.

Dr Opuku Prempeh further urged the staff of the refinery to put all past rancours behind them, cooperate with the IMC and work hard to ensure the success of the refinery.

Kwasi Obeng-Fosu the PRO of the Energy Ministry in an interview said the committee is to submit its report, including findings and recommendations, to the Minister of Energy within three months.

MD’s sack
Francis Boateng and his deputy Ato Morrison, who have been at the helm of the troubled state-owned refinery since May 2020, were reportedly served with their dismissal letters last Friday 11 June 2021 by the Ministry of Energy, according to the Business & Financial Times.

Their dismissal is coming barely a month after reports suggesting the Ghana Water Company had cut water supply to the refinery over a GHC6 million debt.

Some players in the energy sector have over the years raised concerns about the dwindling fortunes of the country’s sole oil refinery.