ENERGY MINISTER TRACKS DOWN 2,637 MISSING ECG CONTAINERS AFTER AUDIT

The Minister for Energy, John Abdulai Jinapor, has traced a total of 2,637 containers belonging to the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) following a comprehensive audit and investigation. This move is part of a wider effort to uncover procurement irregularities and mismanagement within ECG.

The containers, which were initially unaccounted for, had been held at the Tema Port, with many accumulating demurrage charges over time. The situation came to light after the Minister set up a committee in January 2025 to review the status of ECG’s container shipments and the associated procurement processes.

According to the committee’s 103-page report, ECG had recorded the arrival of 2,491 containers, yet only 1,134 could be traced during the audit. This left 1,357 containers missing. The estimated cost in demurrage and storage fees due to the prolonged clearance delays has ballooned to approximately GHS 1.5 billion.

Further investigation revealed significant breaches in procurement protocols. Several contracts had been awarded to companies that lacked the appropriate licenses or qualifications, and the procurement director in charge lacked both professional certification and relevant experience.

As part of recovery efforts, about 40 of the missing containers were located at a warehouse in Kpone. The Minister has committed to launching a forensic tracking initiative using the containers’ serial numbers to locate the remaining stock.

In response to these developments, Mr. Jinapor has engaged the Attorney General’s Department, the Police Service, and the National Intelligence Bureau to pursue criminal investigations and prosecute those implicated in the misconduct.

Additionally, reforms are being introduced within ECG, including the separation of its procurement unit from other operational functions and a 50% budget cut—from GHS 500 million to GHS 250 million—to curb wasteful spending and enhance financial discipline.

These actions are part of a broader strategy to restore transparency and efficiency within Ghana’s power sector and prevent similar occurrences in the future.