Over 1,300 ECG containers at Tema Port missing – Report

An investigation has revealed that more than 1,300 containers owned by the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) are unaccounted for at the Tema Port, in accordance with a report. The Chairman of the investigative committee, Prof Innocent Senyo Acquah, indicated that while ECG declared to have 2,491 uncleared containers filled with cables and other essential equipment, an external audit at the port found only 1,134 containers.

As a result, a total of 1,357 items are missing. The Minister of Energy and Green Transition, John Abdulai Jinapor, showed concern about the situation and affirmed that it would be investigated after examining the findings were presented to him.

Mr John Abdulai Jinapor declared that “The over 1,300 containers cannot vanish into thin air. We will ensure those responsible are held accountable.”

The Minister of Energy and Green Transition also promised to separate the procurement unit of ECG within a week and implement essential transformations to prevent forecasted variances.

While this was occurring, the findings from the investigation reveal that:

Before 2022, ECG set aside a designated fund that received weekly financial allocation for customs clearance of shipments.This practice was stopped because it lacked funds, as noted by the ECG board.

Regardless of financial difficulties, ECG granted contracts to two firms to clear the containers—one such entity was funded in advance by ECG.

One of the companies did not have the required permit to handle the contract, triggering apprehension over procurement violations.

ECG’s acquisition division had been combined with their real estate department.

The Director of Procurement had no experience in procurement and did not hold membership of any professional procurement company. The investigation, launched following the minister’s visit to the port in January 2025, showing liabilities related the missing containers at GH₵1.5 billion.