Ghana: ECG Container Saga: Ministry Of Energy Retrieves Over 2,600 Containers

Ghana’s Ministry of Energy and Green Transition announced that it has retrieved 2,637 containers belonging to the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), twice the number of containers presumed to have gone missing with their contents.

Spokesperson for the ministry, Richmond Rockson, disclosed to the Daily Graphic that the committee investigating the missing containers discovered 2,637 containers at the Port of Tema consigned to ECG, instead of the 1,300 initially reported missing.

According to Rockson, as of April 30, 2025, ECG had 2,583 outstanding containers at various locations.

He stated that 860 containers were found at Meridian Port Services, 1,237 at GPHA Terminals, 272 were evacuated by National Security personnel, 194 were located at Amaris Terminal, and 20 were retrieved at ATLAS Manufacturing Terminal.

In March, during an official interaction between Minister of Energy and Green Transition John Abdulai Jinapor and ECG, the power distributor claimed to have 2,491 uncleared containers filled with cables and other essential equipment at the Tema Port.

The Minister raised concerns about the issue and vowed to search for the containers’ whereabouts.

The Minister set up a committee chaired by Professor Innocent Senyo Acquah to investigate the claims.

The committee found that while ECG claimed 2,491 uncleared containers, an independent audit found only 1,134 containers, leaving 1,357 missing. “The over 1,300 containers cannot vanish into thin air. We will ensure those responsible are held accountable,” Minister Jinapor said.

Further analysis showed that 2,437 containers surpassed the 60-day clearance window and were classified as uncleared cargo list (UCL), with 41 verified lists cleared from the port, leaving 2,583 containers. Rockson said delays in clearing those containers resulted in excessive port charges.

ECG and port authorities would engage on the roadmap for outstanding payments.

The Spokesperson said the Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah, had directed that all retrieved containers be evacuated immediately to ECG’s safe warehouses, with inventory taken to ensure all materials are accounted for.

The Energy Minister recognized that the challenges resulted from ECG’s procurement method and directed that suppliers must clear and deliver procured items to ECG.

The Minister also directed ECG to suspend all non-essential procurements pending a review of its procurement policies.

Rockson disclosed that the former Managing Director of ECG, Subik Mahama, had been invited by security agencies and his caution statement taken.

“Some ECG staff have been asked to step aside due to the investigations,” he said.

The Office of the Attorney-General would advise on the way forward, and Rockson assured that anyone found culpable would be held responsible.

Source:https://energynewsafrica.com