Workers of the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) have expressed excitement over the return of President John Dramani Mahama, with many confident that he will fulfill his promise to revive the ailing refinery.

The workers, speaking under the banner of the Executives and Members of the Union of Industry, Commerce and Finance Workers (UNICOF) TOR Branch, stressed that the refinery is a crucial national asset.

They believe that with the necessary investment and support, the refinery could play a pivotal role in stabilising Ghana’s economy, ensuring fuel security, and creating jobs.

Reflecting on President Mahama’s first term, the workers praised the previous efforts made to revive TOR, stating that they were hopeful that his second term would see even greater advancements for the refinery.

They also assured the government of their full support and cooperation in efforts to bring TOR back to full operational capacity.

However, the workers also issued a strong warning against distractions that they believe could derail the revitalisation of the refinery.

Specifically, they called for a focus on TOR’s vision and progress, urging the new government not to be swayed by “discredited and criminal-minded” individuals who have consistently sought to tarnish the refinery’s image.

The workers also pointed to what they described as a deliberate campaign by certain individuals to prevent TOR from operating effectively.

They claim that the “gold for oil” policy, which is supposed to benefit Ghana’s energy sector, has instead been used by some to undermine TOR and turn the refinery into nothing more than a storage facility.

According to the workers, these individuals have caused harm to the refinery’s reputation by generating negative media coverage and deterring potential investors.