BrainDrain@TOR: New employees recruited

Tema, Sept 26, GNA - The Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) has employed new workers who are currently undergoing training to stem the brain drain problem it is currently facing.

It is also linking up with SK Co-operation of Korea, to send 10 of its staff, comprising technicians and engineers to train more people to run its Residual Fluidised Catalytic Cracking (RFCC) plant.

At a press conference in Tema on Monday, the Minister of Energy, Professor Mike Ocquaye said a number of measures, including reviewing conditions of service as well as staff remuneration have been taken to address the problem.

Fourteen key technical staff of TOR, made up of Engineers and Technicians last week resigned to seek greener pastures in the Middle East, specifically Qatar and Oman.

According to the Minister they were promised 2,700 dollars a month as against the 900 dollars paid a month by TOR.

Prof. Ocquaye said most of the departed staff were those who were on leave and had refused to even give TOR a prior notice before resigning. For this reason, the Energy Minister, described their act as illegal and unpatriotic.

He however, reminded those who hold sensitive positions in the country, either Doctors or Nurses of their patriotic duty to give prior notice before resigning from their work.

He stated that the shut down of the RFCC plant of the refinery had no bearing on its brain drain problem and explained that it would be shut down for the next two to three weeks for repair works to be carried out.

He gave the assurance that the current situation at TOR would not affect its operations in any way as far as the supply of petroleum products was concerned.

He further assured Ghanaians that TOR was in the best position to provide the peace and good atmosphere to sustain its position of being the top best refinery in the continent.