1,347 ECG containers at Tema Port cannot be traced — Report

The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) is unable to account for more than 1,300 containers which were supposed to have been cleared at the Tema port, an investigative report on the company’s container holdup at the port and related procurement issues has revealed. 

Giving snippets of the report to the Minister of Energy and Green Transition, John Abdulai Jinapor, the chairman of the committee which was inaugurated in January this year, Professor Innocent Senyo Acquah, said while the company claimed its containers held at the port were 2,491, the committee’s independent audit revealed that only 1,134 of the uncleared containers belonged to ECG, leaving 1,347 containers unaccounted for.

He said prior to 2022, ECG had a dedicated fund, into which money was paid every week, for clearing of containers.

The Material Director of the company, however, told the committee that the practice was stopped because the ECG board said there was no money. 

Meanwhile, within the same period, Prof. Acquah said the company awarded contracts to two companies to clear the containers, one being pre-financed by ECG.

He said that one of the companies had no licence to do the job it had been contracted to carry out for the ECG, alleging various procurement breaches in the transaction.

In the course of its work, the team found out that ECG’s procurement directorate had been merged with the Housing and Estate unit.

Investigations further revealed that the director had no procurement background and was not a member of any procurement body or association, Prof. Acquah added. 

Assurance

Mr Jinapor described the findings as alarming, and gave an assurance that the ministry, together with other bodies, would conduct a thorough investigation into the matter.

“Over 1,300 containers cannot vanish into thin air, we will work with the A-G and the police to retrieve the containers or monetary value of same, and ensure those responsible are brought to book ” he said.

The minister said when retrieved, the containers would be moved into a secured warehouse where national security would provide 24 hours surveillance.

He stressed the need to change the procurement process at ECG, adding “it cannot be business as usual, we will adopt swift and far-reaching measures to ensure the right things are done.

“We are not targeting anybody, but we will make sure whoever is responsible will be held liable,” the minister said, adding that the Procurement Unit of ECG would be decoupled by next week. 

Background

On January 30, this year, the sector minister inaugurated a five-member committee to unearth the reasons why over 2,000 containers procured by ECG had been left at the port.

The committee, which was given a one-month deadline, was tasked to also investigate ECG’s procurement practices, cost of the containers, liabilities involved and recommend solutions on the way forward relating to the mounting financial liabilities estimated at GH¢1.5 billion.

The containers were discovered after the minister paid a working visit to the port after assuming office in January this year.

Writer’s email: justice.agbenorsi@graphic.com.gh