Ghana: TOR Board Chairman David Adomako Resigns

The Board Chairman of the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR), Mr David Adomako, has resigned from the board, citing the recent development in the refinery for his grounds

Mr Adomako tendered his resignation to the Presidency in a letter dated 24 January 2024 which was copied to the Minister for Energy.

According to him, his resignation is borne out of the withdrawal of the proposed partnership between TOR and Tema Energy and Processing Limited which the Board deemed to be in the best interests of resuscitating an ailing and distressed TOR.

“I am unfortunately not in the position to dedicate the necessary time and energy required for a renewed pursuit of a solution for the company, which in my opinion will be an onerous task without a determinable outcome.

“I am also concerned that such a solution will require a level of harmony between staff, management, board of directors and all other stakeholders that sadly appears to have failed us in this most recent iteration of restructuring efforts. In the absence of government financial support for the rehabilitation of the refinery, and given the difficulty in attracting significant private sector investment in the plant, the board has instructed management to present a wider range of alternative strategic options for TOR, whilst also continuing its ongoing efforts to secure investors interested in the rehabilitation of the refinery.

“I wish the very best for the good people of TOR, and in particular the ordinary working staff, in the immediate future and beyond,” Mr Adomako said.

There has been a misunderstanding between a section of TOR workers and management over the handling of a strategic partnership between TOR and Tema Energy and Processing Limited formerly Torentco Asset Management Limited.

The workers, led by the General Transport Petroleum and Chemical Workers Union (GTPCWU), have accused the management and the Board of failing to ensure transparency in the whole process.

The development, recently, resulted in the Board interdicting two executives of GTPCWU– Serwah Duncan-Williams and Anthony Koomson.

Last week, the National Labour Commission, the agency responsible for resolving disputes between workers and employers in the Republic of Ghana, wrote to the Acting Managing Director of TOR to respond to complaints received from the national executives of the General Transport Petroleum and Chemical Workers’ Union over the interdiction of their two executives.

In a letter signed by Dr. Bernice A. Welbeck, the Executive Secretary of NLC, said, “The Commission writes to forward a copy of the letter to you and request your response to the complaint by the Union before the close of work on February 13, 2024.

“Treat as urgent given the union’s decision to begin picketing on 13th February 2024,” a portion of the letter said.

Source: https://energynewsafrica.com