The Ministry of Energy has retrieved 2,637 containers belonging to the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), twice the number of containers presumed to have gone missing with their contents.
In an exclusive interview with the Daily Graphic’s Timothy Gobah in Accra on Monday (May 26), the Spokesperson for the ministry, Richmond Rockson, said the committee investigating the 1,300 containers said to be unaccounted for discovered 2,637 containers at the Port of Tema consigned to the ECG, a number far above the initial missing items.
He said as of April 30, 2025, ECG had 2,583 outstanding containers at various locations.
Mr Rockson said 860 of the containers were found at Meridian Port Services, 1,237 at GPHA Terminals, while 272 were evacuated by National Security personnel.
He added that 194 were located at Amaris Terminal, while 20 were retrieved at ATLAS Manufacturing Terminal.
Background
In March this year, during an official interaction between the Minister of Energy and Green Transition, John Abdulai Jinapor, and the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), the power distributor claimed to have 2,491 uncleared containers filled with cables and other essential equipment at the Tema Port.
The minister subsequently set up a committee chaired by Professor Innocent Senyo Acquah to investigate the claims.
The committee found out that while ECG claimed to have 2,491 uncleared containers filled with cables and other essential equipment, an independent audit at the port found only 1,134 containers, leaving 1,357 missing.
Mr Jinapor expressed concern about the situation and assured the public that it would be investigated.
“The over 1,300 containers cannot vanish into thin air. We will ensure those responsible are held accountable,” he stated.
Thereafter, the minister set up a committee made up of the National Security, the Ministry of Transport, GPHA and Customs to investigate the ECG’s containers that could not be accounted for.
Clearance window
Mr Rockson said further analysis showed that 2,437 containers surpassed the 60-day clearance window and were classified as uncleared cargo list (UCL), with 41 verified lists cleared from the port, leaving 2,583 containers.
He said delays in clearing those containers resulted in excessive port charges.
Mr Rockson said ECG and port authorities would engage on the roadmap for outstanding payments.
The Spokesperson for the ministry said the Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah, had directed that all retrieved containers should be evacuated immediately to ECG’s safe warehouses.
According to the directive, inventory must be taken to ensure all the materials are accounted for.
He said the Energy Minister recognised that the challenges resulted from the procurement method used by ECG, where the items were consigned to the company without clearing them.
Procurement
Consequently, he said Mr Jinapor had directed that ECG should depart from this method of procurement.
“Suppliers must clear and deliver to ECG any item procured,” Mr Rockson said.
The minister had further directed ECG to suspend all non-essential procurements, pending the review of its procurement policies.
A-G to advise
Mr Rockson disclosed that the former Managing Director of ECG, Subik Mahama, had been invited by the security agencies and his caution statement taken.
“Some ECG staff have been asked to step aside due to the investigations,” he said.
Mr Rockson said the Office of the Attorney-General would advise on the way forward.
“You’ve the assurance of the minister that anyone found culpable will be held responsible,” he stressed.
Source: Graphic Online
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