National Security has arrested 14 individuals, including 10 foreign nationals and four Ghanaians, in connection with the disappearance of 1,300 shipping containers filled with goods and materials belonging to the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG).
The arrests were revealed during a visit by the Minister of Energy and Green Transition, John Abdulai Jinapor, to Dangfang Company Ltd and Ponlok Manufacturing Company Ltd near Shai Hills, as well as a warehouse in Kpone, where recovered ECG cables were uncovered.
The minister pledged full prosecution of those responsible, stating, “We will pursue and prosecute anyone found culpable over the missing 1,300 shipping containers and their contents belonging to the ECG.”
During the minister’s visit to the smelter factories, officials observed ECG-branded cable drums and cables being smelted into aluminum rods for export. At Kpone, a large warehouse contained additional cables suspected to be part of the missing shipment.
Mr. Jinapor revealed that an investigative committee, set up upon his assumption of office, discovered the unaccounted-for containers at Tema Port. Preliminary findings indicated that a syndicate had been orchestrating the theft since 2019.
“Clearly, as you can see, these are ECG cables… that is criminal,” he stated, emphasizing that the ministry was determined to dismantle the network involved in the illegal trade.
Mr. Jinapor also dismissed attempts to politicize the issue, asserting that his duty was to uphold the law, not engage in political maneuvering.
“Those who think they can engage in political football, those who think they can use this to try and equalize, it will not work,” he warned. He reaffirmed his commitment to recovering the containers, saying, “Wherever the containers are, we will trace them.”
The minister further disclosed procurement breaches within ECG, citing excessive spending beyond approved budgets. In 2014, the company planned a $1.397 billion procurement but ended up spending $8.2 billion, a pattern that continued into 2024.
Chief Superintendent Osman Alhassan, Director of Investigations at National Security, confirmed the arrests and revealed that some suspects attempted to influence security personnel during their detention.
However, officers resisted any interference and carried out their mandate diligently. While the exact number of retrieved containers remains unclear, Alhassan assured the public that investigations were ongoing and additional leads, including reports of missing transformers, were being pursued.
“At the appropriate time, we will keep you updated,” he stated.
