The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has instructed the management of the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) to halt its proposed partnership agreement with Tema Energy and Processing Limited (TEPL).
In a letter dated November 21, 2023, addressed to TOR’s Managing Director, Daniel Osei Appiah, the OSP indicated that it had initiated a corruption risk analysis regarding the proposed partnership.
The directive requires the immediate suspension of the partnership agreement, ongoing negotiations, operations, and all related activities until further notice from the Special Prosecutor.
The directive follows protests from TOR staff opposing the partnership with Torentco Asset Management Limited, now known as Tema Energy and Processing Limited.
The General Transport, Petroleum, and Chemical Workers Union of the Trades Union Congress (TUC) Ghana petitioned the Special Prosecutor on November 20, requesting an investigation into the lease agreement between TOR and Torentco Asset Management Limited.
The Workers Union expressed concerns about potential worker misrepresentation and suggested that the TOR Board of Directors might be compromised, leading to fears of the country being shortchanged.
The union highlighted previous proposals from Falcon American Oil and Legacy Capital, claiming that despite red flags, TOR’s Board and Management were determined to lease TOR to Torentco/TEPL for six years.
The petition aims to seek intervention and prevent a possible scandal similar to the ECG/PDS case.
