The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has issued a directive to the management of the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) to suspend 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 noted that it had initiated an analysis of the corruption risks associated with the proposed partnership.

The letter instructed TOR to provide all necessary documentation related to the proposed agreement by the close of Tuesday, 5 December 2023. 

It further directed TOR to suspend all activities related to the proposed partnership agreement.

“You are directed to immediately suspend the proposed partnership agreement, ongoing negotiations, operations and all other ancillary activities arising out of and consequent upon the proposed partnership agreement until you are otherwise advised by the Special Prosecutor,” the letter directed.

Although the particular reasons for the OSP’s directive is unclear, recently, internal conflicts within TOR have emerged, with staff raising concerns about five colleagues and two board members allegedly registering an entity named 'TOR Workers’ Charity Fund' to discreetly acquire shares in the TOR-Torentco deal without the knowledge of over 500 workers.

The aggrieved workers claim that the TOR Workers’ Charity Trust, registered on August 29, 2023, was intended to support Torentco Asset Management Limited (TAML), now known as Tema Energy and Processing Limited (TEPL), as the new lessee for the proposed transaction.

 Accusations of collusion have been leveled against two board members, two management staff, two UNICOF executives, and one junior staff in facilitating the registration of the fund to push through the controversial TOR-Torentco deal.

Despite having a refining capacity of 45,000 barrels of oil per day, TOR has faced operational challenges, consistent financial losses, management crises, political interference, and struggles with outdated equipment over the years.