A shocking investigative report has revealed that 1,347 out of 2,491 containers belonging to the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) have vanished from Tema Port, raising serious concerns over procurement lapses, financial mismanagement, and possible corruption.
Led by Prof. Innocent Senyo Acquah, the investigative committee discovered that ECG had originally listed 2,491 uncleared containers filled with essential electrical equipment. However, a recent independent audit identified only 1,134 containers, leaving a staggering 1,347 containers unaccounted for.
Minister of Energy and Green Transition, John Abdulai Jinapor, has described the revelations as alarming, vowing that a full-scale probe involving the Attorney General and the Police will be launched to recover the missing assets or their monetary value.
The report uncovered several critical lapses in ECG’s procurement and financial processes:
Budgetary Neglect: ECG previously had a dedicated fund for clearing shipments, but this was discontinued before 2022 due to financial constraints.
Questionable Contracting: ECG outsourced container clearance to two firms, with one company lacking the necessary license—a potential violation of procurement laws.
Lack of Oversight: ECG’s procurement directorate was merged with the Housing and Estate unit, weakening accountability.
Unqualified Leadership: The Director of Procurement had no prior procurement experience and was not a member of any professional procurement body.
Government Response: Urgent Reforms Ahead
Minister Jinapor has assured the public that reforms will be implemented immediately, including, separating ECG’s procurement unit to restore oversight, holding accountable those responsible for the missing containers, and strengthening internal controls to prevent future financial leakages.
The missing containers are estimated to carry liabilities of GH₵1.5 billion, making this one of Ghana’s biggest procurement scandals in recent years.
