An independent audit has revealed that 1,347 containers belonging to the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) are unaccounted for at the Tema Port.
ECG initially claimed to have 2,491 uncleared containers filled with cables and other essential equipment. However, an investigative audit found only 1,134 containers at the port, leaving a significant shortfall of 1,357 missing containers.
Audit findings and financial constraints
The investigation was conducted by a committee chaired by Prof. Innocent Senyo Acquah.
It discovered that prior to 2022, ECG had a dedicated fund receiving weekly allocations for clearing shipments.
However, due to financial constraints, this practice was discontinued by the ECG board, leading to delays in clearing the containers.
Procurement irregularities
Despite financial difficulties, ECG awarded contracts to two firms to clear the containers.
One of these firms was pre-financed by ECG, but it was discovered that the other company did not have the required license to handle the contract.
This raised concerns about procurement violations.
The report also revealed that ECG’s procurement directorate had been merged with its Housing and Estate unit.
Additionally, the Director of Procurement had no prior experience in procurement and was not a member of any professional procurement body, further compounding the issues.
Financial implications and ministerial action
The audit estimates that liabilities linked to the missing containers amount to GH₵1.5 billion.
Minister of Energy and Green Transition, John Abdulai Jinapor, expressed deep concern about the situation and assured that a thorough investigation would be conducted.
Urgent reforms to ECG procurement process
As part of immediate reforms, the minister announced that ECG’s procurement unit would be decoupled within a week.
He also pledged to introduce swift and far-reaching measures to prevent future irregularities.
“It cannot be business as usual. We are not targeting anybody, but we will make sure whoever is responsible will be held liable,” he stated.
The investigation was initiated after the discovery of the uncleared containers during the minister’s visit to the port in January 2025.
The findings have sparked widespread concerns about transparency and accountability within ECG’s operations.
