People are stealing ECG Containers – Says John Jinapor
Minister of Energy John Jinapor has disclosed that people are stealing ECG containers and selling the containers and their contents.
During a report, the current Minister of Energy, John Jinapor, has shown concern about the current difficulties between the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) and the leaders of Tema Port.
John Jinapor disclosed that over 2500 ECG containers have been stuck and stranded at Tema Port and have not been cleared to date.
He made it known that the longer it stays there, the more penalties and demurrage it attracts, as a week ago he got the briefing that the demurrage alone has been estimated at 1.5 billion Ghana cedis.
He stated it is unacceptable and why would the management of Tema Port charge such a huge amount for demurrage?
What led to this unattainable situation? Why would ECG pay that amount of money?
What is even alarming? “People are stealing the containers and buying the containers at lockdown prices,” stated by John Jinapor.
He reportedly said that the containers are not empty and they contain cable and all other ECG materials. People have been illegally buying the container, which cost $500,000 for a worthless amount of 100,000 cedis. These same buyers bring it to the same open market and sell it to contractors at outrageous prices.
He emphasised that the ECG containers are state property and should not be sold for personal gain. “The ECG containers belong to the state and are not meant for personal use or sale. I cannot accept this 1.5 billion cedis bill from Tema Port,” Jinapor declared during his interview.
“Let me be fair and straight; we will not allow this,” so we will set up that committee to investigate all the procurement issues from IT, logistics, and transport, ordinary material procurement, and when the committee brings their findings, we will determine the way forward,” John Jinapor added.
The stuck and stranded containers, linked to ex-ECG Managing Director Samuel Dubik Mahama, which contain critical materials, were purchased under the previous administration.
Recently, claims from the ECG’s Procurement department are said to contain certain consumables. Some of the purchases done, according to The Herald’s insiders, could last the next 20 years. They include socks, reflective vests, and EGC clothes of different designs.
John Jinapor stressed the urgency of clearing the containers to mitigate further financial losses and support the implementation of key energy initiatives for the benefit of Ghanaians.