The Executive Director of the Centre for Environmental Management and Sustainable Energy (CEMSE), Benjamin Nsiah, has called for an urgent and thorough investigation into the disappearance of over 1,300 Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) containers.
Speaking on Prime News on ABC News GH, Nsiah expressed confidence that the remaining missing containers could be tracked down, emphasizing that the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), particularly its Customs Division, has records of their clearance.
“I am hopeful because it is one of the easiest things to do. Before they are cleared, and who cleared them, are all known by the GRA, especially the Customs Division,” he stated.
He urged authorities to swiftly access the GRA’s records to determine the exact dates the containers were cleared and those responsible for their release.
“It’s just about going into the system of GRA. The Customs Division should be able to tell us the days they were cleared and who cleared them,” Nsiah added.
Commending Energy and Green Transition Minister John Abdulai Jinapor for his decisive steps in the matter, Nsiah insisted that investigations must be fast-tracked to prevent suspects from fleeing.
“I insist that the investigation must be immediate because these culprits must have heard the news and might find ways to exit this country—maybe to places where transactions or engagements might be difficult,” he warned.
Nsiah further alleged that individuals within the system had colluded to ensure that the missing containers were not only cleared illegally but also sold to private individuals, with some being auctioned back to ECG as second-hand purchases.
Background
The missing ECG containers scandal has drawn significant public outcry, with reports indicating that over 1,300 containers meant for the state power distributor mysteriously vanished.
Energy and Green Transition Minister John Abdulai Jinapor disclosed on March 26 that 40 of these missing containers had been traced to a warehouse owned by an Indian national at Kpone, near Tema. The warehouse owner claimed the containers were sold to him in 2024. However, the minister assured that investigations are ongoing and that law enforcement agencies are working diligently to ensure justice is served.
Jinapor also hinted that intelligence reports suggest additional missing containers may be hidden in other locations. He assured Ghanaians that security agencies are actively pursuing leads to recover all missing containers and hold those responsible accountable.
As the scandal unfolds, pressure continues to mount on authorities to bring perpetrators to book and restore public confidence in state institutions.