General News of Monday, 9 November 2009

Source: The Catalyst

NDC Youth Forum Demands TOR Probe

The NDC Youth Forum is demanding from the Atta Mills led National Democratic Congress (NDC) government to institute a probe into the activities of the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) over the period 2003 to 2008. This was the period Dr K. K. Sarpong was in charge of TOR as managing director appointed by the erstwhile New Patriotic Party (NPP) government. In a press release last week Signed by one Alex Offei Agyemang, the group said “Ghanaians have the right to know what transpired during the period 2003 – 2008 at the refinery, since they were taxed to pay for the debt of the company by the NPP.” Read the full statement below: “We of the NDC Youth Forum want to add our voice to the call by the Media Analyst Group and Media Warriors of the NDC and all well meaning Ghanaians for the government to probe the operations of the Tema Oil Refinery for the period 2003 to 2008. This is to ensure that Ghanaians would have an opportunity to understand problems confronting the Tema Oil Refinery. And also bring to book those who were culpable as has been demanded if any. We believe that Justice Afreh was clear in his ruling as to what constitutes a financial loss to the state. And that it is about time we deepen further the definition of the learned judge by ensuring that these laws of the land are made to work.

Asking people to account for their stewardship is not wrong but it is also dangerous to allow for speculation and rumours which would in the long run poison the atmosphere. This would also be a disincentive for Ghanaians who want to serve the state.

Ghanaians have the right to know what transpired during the period 2003 – 2008 at the refinery, since they were taxed to pay for the debt of the company by the NPP.

We suggest that government should bring back the idea of workplace committees as it pertained in the days of the PNDC so as to empower and involve all in the management of state institutions if the question posed to the workers of the Tema Oil Refinery by His Excellency President on his visit to the refinery was to be answered.”