The Government has assured the public that there is enough fuel stock, despite the shutdown of the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR). A statement signed by the Deputy Information Minister, James Agyenim Boateng indicated that figures released to government by the National Petroleum Authority (NPA) show that the current stock available can last for the next five weeks, and “there are arrangements as is always the case to secure more supplies taking into consideration the production schedules of TOR.” Workers of the Tema Oil Refinery on Tuesday organised a durbar during which they demanded the immediate removal of the Energy Minister, Dr Oteng Adjei. They accused him of flouting a directive by President Mills to have TOR procure crude oil on its own from several suppliers including Sahara, and issuing a counter-directive for the refinery to depend on the Ghana National Petroleum Corporation for their crude. The supplies from GNPC, they say, is erratic and has led to needless shutdowns of plants in the refinery. But the Deputy Information Minister in an interview with Joy News said the allegations by the workers against the minister cannot be true. He said the president issued no such directive to have TOR exclusively import crude oil for its operations. He added that the reason for the shutdown of the refinery is as a result of the failure of one of the suppliers of TOR to honour its promise to deliver crude oil for the refinery. Meanwhile, the Managing Director of the refinery, Dr Kwame Ampofo says he is “deeply embarrassed” by the agitations of the workers. He told Joy News the shutdown of the refinery cannot be blamed on the minister, explaining the shutdown is a result of shortage of crude oil which the minister had nothing to do with. He accused the workers of “misunderstanding” the president’s directive and urged them to exercise restraint. Dr. Ampofo also dismissed assertions that he is incompetent and must be relieved of his responsibilities. He blamed the current state of the refinery to what he says is a deplorable condition he inherited from the erstwhile New Patriotic Party and has since assuming office, worked tirelessly to save the situation. Play the attached audio for excerpts of the interviews Story by Nathan Gadugah/Myjoyonline.com/Ghana