Special Prosecutor Directs Tema Oil Refinery to Suspend Proposed Partnership Agreement: The Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) has directed the Tema Oil Refinery (TOR) to immediately suspend its proposed partnership agreement with Tema Energy and Processing Limited. The directive is contained in a letter dated November 21, 2023, and signed by the Special Prosecutor, Kissi Agyebeng.
In the letter, the OSP states that it has commenced an analysis of the risk of corruption in respect of the proposed partnership agreement. The OSP further states that the directive to suspend the agreement is in pursuance of regulation 31(1)(a) of the Office of the Special Prosecutor (Operations) Regulations, 2018 (L.I. 2374) and the objects of section 2(c) of the Office of the Special Prosecutor Act, 2017(Act 959).
The OSP has also directed TOR to furnish it with all necessary documents in respect of the proposed partnership agreement. The directive is to be complied with on or before the close of business on Tuesday, December 5, 2023.
The OSP’s directive to TOR comes at a time when the government is under pressure to take action to address corruption in the oil and gas sector. In recent years, there have been a number of allegations of corruption in the sector, including allegations of bribery, collusion, and conflict of interest.
The OSP’s directive is a welcome step, and it is hoped that it will help to deter corruption in the oil and gas sector. It is also hoped that the OSP’s investigation into the proposed partnership agreement between TOR and Tema Energy and Processing Limited will be thorough and impartial.
The OSP’s directive is a significant development in the fight against corruption in Ghana. It is also a reminder that the OSP is not afraid to take on powerful entities, such as TOR. It is hoped that the OSP’s directive will serve as a warning to other entities that are considering engaging in corrupt activities.
