The Minister of Energy and Green Transition, Dr. John Abdulai Jinapor, has revealed that 40 of the Electricity Company of Ghana’s (ECG) missing containers have been traced to a warehouse owned by an Indian national.
This discovery follows an investigation launched by a committee tasked with probing ECG’s procurement activities under the previous administration, which, according to Dr. Jinapor, resulted in substantial financial losses to the state.
Massive Procurement Irregularities at ECG
Dr. Jinapor criticized ECG’s procurement practices, describing them as “frivolous” and a key factor in the company’s financial struggles. He disclosed that approximately 3,000 ECG containers remain stranded at the ports, incurring demurrage costs of about GHC 1.5 billion.
Speaking on Hot Issues on TV3, he lamented that many of the items in these containers were either unnecessary or would remain unused for years.
“Some of the things they’ve procured will last them ten years; some will even expire in five years,” he said, emphasizing the urgent need for reforms.
To address these concerns, the minister confirmed the establishment of a committee to investigate ECG’s procurement activities and determine the financial burden caused by the stranded shipments.
Missing Containers and Warehouse Discovery
An audit by the investigative committee, led by Chairman Prof. Innocent Senyo Acquah, initially found that ECG had reported 2,491 uncleared containers at the ports. However, an independent verification revealed that only 1,134 containers could be accounted for, leaving 1,347 missing.
Providing an update on TV3’s News Central on Thursday, March 27, 2025, Dr. Jinapor commended National Security and law enforcement agencies for their efforts in locating some of the missing containers.
“The information I got this morning is that they’ve already traced about 40 of them to a particular warehouse in Kpong, which belongs to an Indian man. They’ve confiscated all 40 containers and moved them to a secured location,” he disclosed.
The warehouse owner claimed the containers had been sold to him in 2024, a claim now under investigation. Law enforcement agencies are expected to take further action as the probe continues.
Broader Audit of ECG and the Energy Sector
Dr. Jinapor asserted that the mismanagement at ECG warrants a comprehensive audit of the entire energy sector, including a review of human resources and technical operations.
“So far, the preliminary reports indicate massive rot at ECG. But beyond that, we will conduct a deeper audit of the entire energy sector to expose inefficiencies and shape our policy directives,” he stated.
The revelations have raised concerns about governance within ECG and the broader energy sector, with stakeholders calling for strict accountability measures to prevent future financial losses.
