Over 100 youth stormed the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) on Wednesday, demanding the immediate removal of appointees from the previous government, less than 24 hours after Ghana’s newly sworn-in President assumed office.
Sources within the refinery revealed that the group voiced their dissatisfaction with the continued presence of officials appointed under the former administration, insisting that they be relieved of their duties.
Some members of the group also stated that they had come to seek employment, citing hopes that the new administration would prioritize job creation for local citizens.
The protest created tension at the refinery, requiring security personnel to intervene to de-escalate the situation. According to sources, the youth eventually dispersed after discussions with refinery officials and security officers.
The Tema Oil Refinery, with a capacity of 45,000 barrels per stream day, has been dormant for several months. Attempts by the previous administration to secure private partnerships for its revival proved unsuccessful, leaving the facility underutilized.
With a workforce of approximately 515 employees, the refinery remains a critical part of Ghana’s energy sector. The latest incident underscores the public’s heightened expectations of the new administration to address unemployment and operational inefficiencies in key state enterprises.
Efforts to reach refinery officials for comment were unsuccessful at the time of publication.
Energynews
