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The Minister of Energy, John Jinapor, has promised to unveil shocking procurement infractions that allegedly occurred at the Energy Ministry under the previous Akufo-Addo administration.
Speaking on TV3’s KeyPoints on March 29, Mr Jinapor expressed deep concerns over the scale of misconduct, assuring Ghanaians that he would soon provide comprehensive details.
“Procurement infractions at the Energy Ministry are very shocking; I will give you details soon,” Mr Jinapor told host Alfred Ocansey.
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His remarks come amidst a growing scandal involving the disappearance of over 1,300 containers belonging to the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) from the Tema Port. So far, only 40 out of 1,328 containers have been retrieved, leaving a trail of unanswered questions.
Mr Jinapor revealed that the systemic decay leading to the missing containers began in 2022, accusing a cartel within ECG of manipulating the procurement process.
He called for a forensic audit to identify all those involved, adding that the former ECG managing director would be invited to provide explanations.
“We are looking into the procurement structures of ECG. It is like a cartel that has been operating. Everybody will be given a fair hearing,” he assured.
Prominent businessman and convener of the One Ghana Movement, Senyo Hosi, has also demanded a thorough forensic audit to unmask and prosecute all culprits linked to the scandal.
“Every culprit in this matter must be held accountable. It is a systematic failure of governance,” Senyo Hosi declared.
Hosi, who described ECG as a problematic entity with nearly 70 billion cedis in debt, emphasised the need for deep-rooted reforms to address structural weaknesses.
An investigative report led by Prof. Innocent Senyo Acquah has painted a damning picture of ECG’s handling of shipments. The investigation, launched after Minister Jinapor’s visit to Tema Port in January 2025, exposed significant irregularities and procurement breaches:
- ECG initially claimed it had 2,491 uncleared containers filled with cables and critical equipment. However, an independent audit found only 1,134 containers, leaving 1,347 missing.
- Contracts were awarded to two clearing firms, one of which lacked the required licence—raising questions about procurement violations.
- The Procurement Directorate had been merged with the Housing and Estate unit, while the Director of Procurement lacked professional procurement qualifications.
- Before 2022, ECG maintained a dedicated clearing fund that received weekly allocations. This practice was discontinued due to financial constraints, allegedly leading to mismanagement.
Minister Jinapor, visibly disturbed by the findings, stressed the need for urgent reforms and pledged to separate ECG’s procurement unit within a week to ensure transparency and accountability.
“The over 1,300 containers cannot vanish into thin air. We will ensure those responsible are held accountable,” he stated.
The energy minister has vowed to involve the attorney general and police service in a full-scale investigation to recover the missing containers or their monetary value. The liabilities linked to the scandal are estimated at GH₵1.5 billion.
With pressure mounting on the Energy Ministry and ECG, Ghanaians are eagerly anticipating Mr Jinapor’s promised revelations on procurement breaches and the steps the government will take to restore public confidence.
The ECG containers scandal has become a litmus test for President John Dramani Mahama’s administration as it seeks to demonstrate a zero-tolerance stance against corruption and mismanagement.
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