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The Trades Union Congress (TUC) has intensified calls for immediate and decisive action against individuals implicated in the shocking disappearance of over 1,300 containers meant for the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), branding it one of the most disturbing procurement failures in recent memory.
According to findings from an independent audit, only 1,134 out of 2,491 containers declared by ECG as being held at Ghana’s ports could be accounted for—leaving a staggering 1,357 containers missing without trace or explanation.
Speaking on Eyewitness News on Thursday, April 10, Dr Kwabena Nyarko Otoo, Director of Research and Policy at the TUC, expressed outrage at what he described as a deliberate and systemic failure in public asset management.
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“We are not just talking about a few misplaced boxes. We are talking about 1,357 containers—filled with equipment that taxpayers paid for—vanishing. This is not a mistake. This is theft.”
“If the government cannot hold the culprits accountable, then what hope do we have in tackling the broader issues of corruption and waste?” he asked.
The missing containers were reportedly filled with critical power distribution materials—cables, transformers, and components essential to grid expansion and maintenance. Their disappearance has exacerbated operational challenges at ECG, especially at a time when power outages and load shedding are threatening businesses and livelihoods across the country.
Dr Otoo warned that the scandal has national security implications.
“Electricity is the backbone of our economy. And yet, here we are, losing containers full of essential gear while communities go dark. Someone has to answer for this,” he said.
The TUC has joined a growing chorus of voices calling for:
- An independent, bipartisan inquiry into ECG’s procurement practices
- Criminal prosecution of individuals found complicit in the disappearance
- A complete overhaul of ECG’s logistics and inventory systems
Dr Otoo also suggested that state security agencies be involved, given the size of the loss and the potential collusion between state actors and private contractors.
“We need the Attorney General, the Auditor General, and national security all on this. The signal must be clear: you cannot steal from the public purse and walk away.”
The revelation has sparked widespread public anger, with many questioning how such a large volume of imported goods could vanish unnoticed under the supervision of port authorities and ECG management.
There are fears this scandal could further weaken confidence in state institutions already struggling with credibility.
“This is why Ghanaians are frustrated. If we can’t account for thousands of containers, what else are we losing that we don’t even know about?” a caller on Citi FM’s morning show remarked.
As of now, the Electricity Company of Ghana and the Ministry of Energy have not publicly addressed the audit findings or the missing containers. The silence is drawing criticism from civil society organisations, who are demanding full transparency.
“At the very least, the public deserves an explanation. Where are the containers? Who signed off their clearance? Who profited from their disappearance?” Dr Otoo asked.
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