The Centre for Environmental Management and Sustainable Energy (CEMSE) has urged the newly appointed Managing Director of the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR), Edmond Kombat, to lay off redundant staff as part of efforts to restore the refinery’s financial viability.

The Centre says TOR has faced persistent operational and financial challenges over the years and believes that streamlining the workforce is crucial to the refinery’s turnaround.

Speaking after Kombat’s promotion from Deputy Managing Director to the top position, the Centre’s Executive Director, Benjamin Nsiah, called on him to take bold and immediate action, beginning with a critical retrenchment exercise.

“Kombat must do some introspection because TOR has a lot of redundant staff. The company must implement cautionary measures, including a retrenchment exercise, to ensure it becomes cash-flow viable and improves its liquidity position to attract international and other investors,” Nsiah said.

“He must muster the courage to lay off some workers, as the redundancy at TOR is overblown and negatively affects the company’s ability to operate efficiently,” he added.

Nsiah also encouraged the new MD to lead a major rebranding effort to rebuild public trust and reposition TOR’s image.

“TOR urgently needs rebranding. Most of the time, news about the refinery is negative. We believe there must be a deliberate effort to present TOR as a world-class, sub-regional refinery, comparable to others in the region,” he said.

“This rebranding is essential to attract the necessary investments, including upgrading obsolete infrastructure, acquiring new tools and equipment, and securing capital financing to boost the refinery’s operations,” Nsiah stressed.