Tension Mounts At TOR

Tension is reported to be high at the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) as the workers prepare for a meeting with the Minister for Energy, Albert Kan Dapaah on the planned changes in management. The workers have made it clear that they would not accept the removal or reassignment of the Chief Executive, Dr Yaw Akoto, who they describe as an effective leader with good intensions for the refinery.

Ministry officials had earlier denied reports that Dr Akoto’s five-year contract was to be terminated. But the Minister’s Special advisor, Kwame Owusu has confirmed that the Chief Executive will be removed, explaining that it is part of a process to change the roles of various personalities at the refinery.

Sources at the refinery say the Energy Minister has failed to win the support of the workers for the changes. He is expected to meet the entire workers group on Tuesday in attempt to get some support, but they have told their union leaders that the Minister for Energy must be prepared to accept responsibility for any action that emanates from the removal of the CEO.

According to sources, the Minister failed to explain his reasons for the changes at a meeting with the leadership of the workers union on Monday. Some of the workers say they are convinced that the action is political, referring to attempts by the Board Chairman , Adu Gyamfi to frustrate management.

The workers embarked on a five-hour sit down strike action last Thursday when news of a meeting (attended by the TOR Board Chairman Mr. Adu Gyamfi) at which Dr. Yaw Akoto was informed of the planned termination of his five-year contract, was announced.

No reasons were given, but “The Ghanaian Chronicle” reports that "some of the reasons being advanced stretch credulity - that it has been discovered that he is an Ewe and an NDC man." The strike action affected the supply of fuel leading to the shortage of diesel over the weekend.

Dr. Akoto domiciled in the United States of America was appointed in year 2000 by the NDC administration and had never been known as a sympathiser of the NDC. But some inferences can be made. "After all, for six years he was room mates with Spio Gabrah (former Ambassador to the US and former Communications & Education Minister in the NDC administration) in New Jersey, the man who later grew to become an NDC clone and eventually introduced Akoto to Mrs. Rawlings and to the party. So, yes, he may well be an NDC sympathiser," wrote the Ghanaian Chronicle.