Transport, petroleum workers petition government to investigate conduct of past TOR board
The General Transport, Petroleum and Chemical Workers Union (GTPCWU) of the Trades Union Congress (TUC) has called on the government to constitute an independent non-partisan committee to investigate the alleged misconduct of some outgone members of the Board of Directors of the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR).
At a media conference held at the TUC Head Office in Accra yesterday, the National Chairman of the GTPCWU, Bernard Owusu, said three TOR board members who were allegedly involved in the misconduct were “Mr Apenteng, Sapara Grant and Ato Morrison”.
He indicated that the activities of the board suggested a deliberate intention to engage known individuals and affiliates within the previous government to partner TOR for various illegalities in a non-transparent manner.
Mr Owusu said the board was engaged in illegally transferring and promoting staff of the TUC and covering up some structural irregularities.
Investigation
The National Chairman of the TUC urged the government to investigate the negligence of the board of directors in engaging Decimal Capital-VITOL in a joint partnership with the TOR, even when VITOL had written to the Energy Ministry that it did not have such an arrangement with Decimal Capital.
He also called for an investigation into the incorporation of a “special purpose vehicle, Torentco Asset Management Limited, by the shareholders of Decimal Capital to cover up all its structural irregularities and flaws identified by the union executives.
“TORBOD colluded with the shareholders of Torentco Asset Management Limited, Mr Michael Darko and Mr Christopher Hesse-Tetteh, and some compromised workers of TOR to incorporate Tema Energy and Processing Limited (TEPL) in August 2023,” he said.
He added that the TOR workers were also made to incorporate a company limited by guarantee named TOR Workers Charity Trust for 20 per cent shares in TEPL without the knowledge or approval of the TOR Management and Workers.
Mr Owusu called for the review of the promotion of all five workers involved in the incorporation of TOR Workers Charity Trust, and an investigation into the removal of all incorruptible managers towards their reinstatement.
Support and call
The Chairman of the GTPCWU of TUC said they were prepared to submit relevant documentation to the Office of the President concerning the issues and requests raised, as and when needed to facilitate the investigation.
He said he was confident that the investigation would provide valuable insights and reinforce public trust in TOR and the government’s commitment to transparency and good governance.
Mr Owusu added that the Union was also ready to assist the current administration in resetting the activities of TOR.
He also called on President Mahama to direct the Ghana Police Service to arrest perpetrators or thugs who invaded and destroyed state property, especially in the petroleum and energy sectors, such as the Bui Power Authority, Ghana Gas, BOST and TOR, and attacked innocent staff without any cause.