An investigative report has uncovered a major procurement scandal within the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), revealing that over 1,300 containers, reportedly filled with cables and essential electrical equipment, are unaccounted for at the Tema Port.
The shocking findings, presented to the Minister of Energy and Green Transition, John Abdulai Jinapor, by the investigative committee, have raised serious concerns about financial mismanagement, procurement irregularities, and potential corruption within ECG.
According to the chairman of the committee, Prof. Innocent Senyo Acquah, ECG initially claimed to have 2,491 uncleared containers at the port. However, an independent audit identified only 1,134, leaving a discrepancy of 1,347 containers that remain missing.
Further investigations revealed that ECG had a dedicated fund for clearing containers until 2022 when the practice was abruptly discontinued due to an alleged lack of funds. Despite this, ECG awarded contracts to two companies to clear the containers, with one of them being pre-financed by ECG. Alarmingly, it was discovered that one of these firms lacked the required licence to operate, pointing to possible procurement breaches.
Additionally, concerns have been raised over ECG’s internal procurement structure. The company had merged its procurement directorate with its Housing and Estate unit, an irregular arrangement that potentially contributed to oversight failures. Even more troubling was the revelation that ECG’s Director of Procurement had no prior experience in procurement and was not affiliated with any professional procurement body.
Reacting to the report, Minister Jinapor expressed deep concern over the scale of the issue and assured swift action to hold those responsible accountable. He pledged a full-scale investigation in collaboration with the Attorney General and the Police to recover the missing containers or their monetary value.
“The over 1,300 containers cannot simply vanish. We will work with the Attorney General and law enforcement agencies to retrieve the containers or ensure that those involved face legal consequences,” Mr. Jinapor stated.
In response to the committee’s findings, the minister also announced immediate reforms at ECG, including the urgent separation of the procurement unit from the Housing and Estate department within a week.
“It will not be business as usual. We are not targeting individuals, but those responsible for this mismanagement will be held accountable,” he stressed.
The investigation was triggered after the minister’s surprise visit to the port in January 2025, which uncovered the long-abandoned uncleared containers. The five-member investigative committee was subsequently set up to examine ECG’s procurement practices and determine liabilities, which have now been estimated at a staggering GH₵1.5 billion.
As the probe intensifies, this scandal raises pressing questions about accountability, oversight, and governance within one of Ghana’s most critical state-owned enterprises.
