Sumo Kupee promises continuity at LPRC

The newly appointed Managing Director for the Liberia Petroleum Refining Company (LPRC) Mr. Sumo Kupee has promised to pick up from where his predecessor, T. Nelsom Williams stopped in advancing the entity.

Speaking Monday, April 20, 2015 at the LPRC Head Offices on Bushrod Island near the Freeport of Monrovia, Mr. Kupee, a former senator for Lofa County,  assured staff of the company that he has not come to change anything, but the build upon the achievements of his predecessor.

 The new LPRC Boss said over the weekend, he received a package from Mr. Williams, containing the Act creating the LPRC, Workers Handbook and other documents. “I will strengthen the five-year plan and not to change anything”, said Mr. Kupee.

Turning to the employees, he challenged them that the best way to keep their jobs is to perform as a team. He also assured his deputies and the entire workforce that they will work together to continue from where Mr. Williams stopped.

Earlier, outgoing Managing Director T. Nelson Williams, recalled that he served the LPRC for seven years, working in various capacities. 

Mr. Williams said President Ellen Johnson-Sirleaf initially appointed him as Deputy Managing Director on October 8, 2007 and on September 9, 2009, he was again appointed by the Liberian leader as Acting Managing Director, a position in which he served for five months before eventually becoming Managing Director of the LPRC.

He noted that after the 2011 General and Presidential Election, President Sirleaf appointed him as Managing Director.

Reflecting on his administration as Managing Director, Mr. Williams said there was no strike by employees in demand for pay. He also said under his leadership, a four bed side clinic was constructed by the entity to help buttress government’s fight against the Ebola Virus Disease, and that petroleum price witnessed continued decrease globally, while pointed to a one-year strategic plan that should be executed in 2016.

The former LPRC Boss then thanked the staff and supporters, and added that he believes Liberia will be Ebola free because of the intervention made by the LPRC during the peak of the crisis.

Also Speaking at the ceremony, the chairman of the LPRC Board of Directors, Dr Herman Browne, said he acknowledged the change made by President Ellen Johnson Sirleaf, adding that the Liberian leader made no mistake in appointing Professor Sumo Kupee, because he is an Economist, who is capable for the job.

For his part, the President Pro-Tempore of the Liberian Senate, Gbarpolu County Senator Armah Jallah, assured the LPRC family that Mr. Kupee will do no less and the workers need to cooperate with him as he takes officet.

By Ethel A. Tweh