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Minority Leader and Member of Parliament for Effutu, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has called on Ghanaian politicians to avoid politicising the controversy surrounding the missing containers belonging to the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG).
Instead, he urged a unified, bipartisan approach to address the deep-seated inefficiencies within state institutions.
Speaking on Eyewitness News on Citi FM on Friday, March 28, Afenyo-Markin, who previously served as the Board Chair of ECG, expressed frustration over the tendency to blame political opponents rather than tackle the root causes of systemic failures.
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“People often see things in a very radioactive state, all because it has taken a partisan twist. I am saying that we can do better as politicians. Let us look at the root cause and solve that problem. Don’t let us say, ‘It is an NPP problem; they caused it.’” Afenyo-Markin remarked.
“The more we continue to do that, the more the system continues to cave in. We shouldn’t be so comfortable,” he added, stressing the need for a long-term, sustainable approach to fixing inefficiencies within state-owned enterprises (SOEs).
Afenyo-Markin’s comments follow disturbing revelations that over 1,300 ECG containers filled with critical equipment have mysteriously gone missing at the Tema Port. The incident, which has sparked national outrage, came to light after an investigative report exposed discrepancies in the number of uncleared containers. Concerns have since been raised about potential corruption or mismanagement.
The Energy and Green Transition Minister, John Abdulai Jinapor, has vowed to either recover the missing containers or secure compensation for their value. Jinapor emphasised that accountability in the energy sector is a top priority and pledged to ensure that those responsible face consequences.
Afenyo-Markin expressed his readiness to back Jinapor if the minister genuinely pursues systemic reforms. “I am assuring my respected friend Jinapor that if he is indeed committed to an overhaul, he should count on our support,” the minority leader stated.
Highlighting the need for comprehensive reforms, Afenyo-Markin lamented the persistent inefficiencies that plague SOEs, pointing out that weak institutional frameworks and political interference often exacerbate these challenges. He urged leaders to focus on long-term solutions instead of playing the blame game.
“In a lot of our SOEs, there are structural inefficiencies that affect the state. I believe that we should use this issue to tackle it comprehensively and get all hands on deck. It doesn’t matter which party is in power,” he noted.
The minority leader also warned that recurrent crises in SOEs could undermine national development efforts if not addressed decisively.
Afenyo-Markin argued that political interference often prevents effective governance, urging leaders to adopt a bipartisan stance on critical national issues. He maintained that the ECG container scandal offers an opportunity to unite and strengthen the state’s oversight mechanisms rather than deepen divisions.
“We shouldn’t turn every issue into a political contest. Let’s look at the real issues, address the inefficiencies, and protect the interests of the Ghanaian people,” he said.
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