The government has vowed to take firm legal action against those responsible for the disappearance of over 1,300 containers belonging to the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), insisting that there will be no political interference or claims of witch-hunting in the process.
Energy Minister John Jinapor emphasized that the state will pursue full accountability, ensuring that all involved are brought to justice.
“When we start prosecuting these people, let nobody come and say the government is witch-hunting. These are properties of the state, and we will use every legitimate and legal means to ensure that we retrieve them and hold all those behind these acts accountable,” Jinapor stated in an interview on TV3’s News Central on Thursday, March 27.
40 Missing Containers Recovered
The minister confirmed that National Security operatives have so far recovered 40 of the missing containers at a warehouse in Kpone, linked to an Indian national. The suspect, who has been arrested, claims the containers were sold to him last year.
“The information I got this morning is that already they have traced about 40 containers to a particular terminal or warehouse in Kpone, which belongs to an Indian national. They have confiscated all the 40 containers and moved them to a secured location,” Jinapor disclosed.
However, he insisted that this does not absolve anyone of responsibility, as law enforcement agencies continue to track the remaining missing containers and investigate those involved.
“There are also reports of some other areas where they are picking intelligence. They will trace all of them, retrieve all the containers as soon as possible, and put the perpetrators before a court of competent jurisdiction.”
No Political Interference in Legal Action
Jinapor dismissed any potential claims of political persecution, stressing that the fight against corruption and mismanagement of public resources will be pursued without fear or favor.
“The government will not be deterred by claims of witch-hunting. We cannot sit back and watch public assets disappear without taking action. The law will take its course, and all those behind this will face justice,” he asserted.
Background: ECG’s Missing Containers Scandal
The shocking revelation of over 1,300 missing ECG containers emerged following an investigation led by Prof. Innocent Senyo Acquah. Initial ECG records listed 2,491 uncleared containers at the Tema Port, but an independent audit found only 1,134, leaving 1,347 containers unaccounted for.
Further investigations revealed financial mismanagement, with ECG previously maintaining a dedicated fund to clear these containers weekly. However, this funding was stopped by the ECG board, citing a lack of funds.
What’s Next?
As the government intensifies its investigations, it has assured Ghanaians that all missing containers will be recovered, and those responsible will face the full force of the law.
The Energy Minister has called for public support in ensuring that state resources are protected and mismanagement is held in check.
