The Minister of Energy and Green Transition, John Abdulai Jinapor, has announced plans to launch a criminal investigation into the disappearance of over 1,300 containers meant for the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG).
Speaking in an interview on an Accra-based TV station on Wednesday, he stated, “I want to ask permission from the President and publish the 103-page report,” emphasizing the need for transparency in the matter. He further stressed, “Let’s get to the bottom of the matter… If we check the records, we should be able to trace where these containers ended.”
The missing containers were revealed in an investigative report led by Prof. Innocent Senyo Acquah, which found that while ECG reported having 2,491 uncleared containers at Tema Port, only 1,134 were accounted for, leaving 1,347 missing.
The report also highlighted procurement breaches, including awarding contracts to a company without the necessary license to clear the containers. It was further discovered that ECG’s procurement directorate had been merged with its Housing and Estate unit, and its procurement director lacked relevant qualifications.
In response to the report, Minister Jinapor described the findings as alarming and assured that the Attorney General and the Police would assist in retrieving the missing containers or their monetary value.
“The over 1,300 containers cannot vanish into thin air. We will work with the AG and the Police to ensure those responsible are brought to book,” he asserted. He also announced that ECG’s procurement unit would be decoupled within a week, pledging swift reforms to prevent similar occurrences in the future.
The investigation follows the minister’s visit to the port in January 2025, which uncovered discrepancies in ECG’s procurement and logistics. A five-member committee was subsequently tasked with reviewing ECG’s procurement processes, estimating liabilities at GH₵1.5 billion. Minister Jinapor has assured that those responsible will be held accountable, stating, “It cannot be business as usual… We are not targeting anybody, but we will make sure whoever is responsible will be held liable.”
