By Grace Zigah
Parliament has intensified investigations into the mysterious disappearance of over 1,300 containers belonging to the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), with the Energy Committee leading the charge for accountability and institutional reform.
The controversy began earlier this year when an internal audit revealed discrepancies in ECG’s inventory records at the Tema Port.
Originally, ECG declared a backlog of 2,491 containers filled with critical electrical components—including cables and transformers—destined to support the national grid.
However, an independent audit found only 1,134 containers physically present, leaving 1,357 containers missing without adequate explanation.
At a high-level engagement at the Peduase Valley Resort, in the Eastern Region, Parliament’s Energy Committee met with top officials from ECG, the Volta River Authority, and Bui Power Authority to align their 2025 operational plans with Ghana’s Renewable Energy Master Plan.
But the meeting was quickly overshadowed by renewed concerns over the missing containers.
ECG’s Acting Managing Director, Kwame Kpekpena, assured the committee that ECG is collaborating with the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA) to locate and recover the lost containers.
Yet, his explanation has done little to quell public and political outrage.
According to documents presented to Parliament, the roots of the problem trace back to 2022, when ECG reportedly began experiencing “systemic decay” in its procurement and logistics systems.
The Energy Minister John Jinapor, addressing the media, pointed to a breakdown in internal controls and described the situation as a “cartel-like operation” within ECG.
“This is just the beginning. We are looking into ECG’s entire procurement structure,” Jinapor stated during an appearance on TV3’s The Key Points.
“The containers cannot vanish into thin air. We will get to the bottom of this.”
Key findings from the investigative committee chaired by Prof. Innocent Senyo Acquah revealed startling lapses:
ECG previously had a dedicated fund that received weekly allocations for clearing shipments, but this was halted due to a lack of financing.
Despite these constraints, ECG awarded clearing contracts to two firms, one of which lacked the proper licensure.
The company’s Procurement Directorate was merged with its Housing and Estate unit, and the current procurement head reportedly has no professional certification or prior procurement experience.
The cumulative value of the missing containers is estimated at GH¢1.5 billion, and the Minister has pledged to involve the Attorney General and law enforcement in recovering both assets and public funds.
Civil society groups have also weighed in and called for a forensic audit, warning that ECG’s dysfunction represents a broader failure of governance.
Parliament’s Energy Committee has promised to get to the bottom of the matter.
