Energy Minister uncovers alleged $500K auction fraud at ECG

Energy Minister John Abdulai Jinapor has exposed a fraudulent auction scheme within the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), where critical electrical equipment worth $500,000 was improperly auctioned at a fraction of its value.

Speaking on TV3’s Hot Issues on Sunday, February 16, 2025, Jinapor revealed that ECG failed to clear essential equipment from the port, leading to financial losses.

“I checked with the port, and the security report shows that a container worth about $500,000 was imported. ECG couldn’t clear it, and somehow, someone was able to buy it at auction for 100,000 cedis, then resell it to ECG for $300,000,” he disclosed.

The Minister described the situation as unacceptable and vowed to take decisive action to stop such practices.

Beyond the fraudulent auctioning, Jinapor highlighted wider procurement mismanagement within ECG, revealing that the company currently has 3,000 containers stuck at the ports, incurring GHS 1.5 billion in demurrage fees due to delays in clearing them.

He attributed the situation to excessive and unnecessary procurements, some of which are projected to last over a decade. “It’s all because they are engaged in what I call very frivolous procurements.

Now, they have about 3,000 containers stacked at the ports, generating GHS 1.5 billion in demurrage—that is very unacceptable,” he stated.

The Minister’s revelations have sparked public outrage, with calls for accountability and immediate reforms in ECG’s procurement and financial management practices.

In response to the alarming findings, Jinapor has set up a committee to investigate ECG’s procurement practices under the Akufo-Addo administration.

The committee is tasked with assessing procurement irregularities, financial losses, and the circumstances surrounding the mismanagement of resources.

“So we’ve commissioned a committee to investigate ECG’s procurements and the cost of these containers stacked at the ports. The committee is doing a very good job,” he assured.

Initial findings suggest massive financial mismanagement within the company, reinforcing the need for urgent reforms.

As investigations continue, industry stakeholders and the public are calling for stringent measures to prevent further financial losses and protect public resources.