Don’t Rule Out Sabotage. Govt Tells Probe Team

The Government has tasked the committee probing the Tema fire disaster not to discount the possibility of sabotage or negligence in its investigations.

The fire, which occurred last Friday, claimed 15 lives and destroyed the entire sea water pumping station of the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR), a refurbished conveyor belt of the Volta Aluminium Company (VALCO) and other structures nearby.

“You must not rule out any report of a possibility of sabotage or negligence as you collect information from the public,” the Government said.

The minister for harbours and railways, Professor Christopher Ameyaw-Akumfi, stated the Government's position when he inaugurated the seven-member committee under the chairmanship of Nana Owusu-Nsiah, the immediate past inspector-general of police (IGP).

The committee has been directed to assess the extent of damage, examine the implications of the incident, submit recommendations for action and future guidance, as well as investigate any other matter as it may deem fit. It will commence its work on Thursday and has two weeks to submit its report.

Professor Ameyaw-Akumfi described the incident as a very serious one and indicated that all the necessary efforts should be expended in getting to the bottom of the matter. “The Government and people of Ghana deserve to be told the truth about this tragedy,” he said.

Professor Ameyaw-Akumfi said given the background of the committee members, the Government was confident that the truth would be told at the end of their sittings.

In his response, the chairman of the committee, Nana Owusu-Nsiah, thanked the Government for the confidence reposed in the members and pledged to work as expected.