The Former Managing Director of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), Samuel Dubik Mahama, has expressed frustration over the handling of the missing ECG containers controversy, calling for a more rigorous and transparent investigation into the matter.
His comments follow concerns raised by the Minister for Energy and Green Transition, John Abdulai Jinapor, regarding the disappearance of over 1,350 ECG containers from Tema Harbour. According to the minister, an investigative committee uncovered significant procurement breaches spanning several years.
Providing an update, Mr Jinapor revealed that security operatives had traced 40 of the missing containers to a warehouse in Pong-Tamale, a community in the Savelugu-Nanton District of the Northern Region.
“The briefing I got this morning is that National Security and law enforcement agencies have already traced about 40 of them to a particular terminal or warehouse in Pong, which belongs to an Indian man,” he disclosed. “They’ve confiscated all 40 and are moving them to a secured location.”
Gaps in the investigation
Speaking on TV3’s Ghana Tonight programme, Mahama criticised the investigative process, stating that the committee had failed to engage key figures, including himself.
“There are inconsistencies in the situation, and inconsistencies do not bring clarity. Let’s all assist in bringing clarity and closure to this matter,” he urged, calling on all stakeholders to support the Energy Minister in uncovering the truth.
Mahama stressed the need for a forensic audit to determine accurately the whereabouts of the containers. He also rejected the claim that the containers were missing, instead suggesting that they had been “misplaced.”
According to Mahama, some of the containers were auctioned off by the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) due to prolonged overstay. He recalled that before leaving office, ECG had raised concerns about these auctions but received no response from the GRA.
Mahama called for greater transparency in the probe, emphasising that the issue should not be clouded by misinformation.
“The fact remains that containers do not just disappear; they are either misplaced or redirected,” he stated.
He also questioned contradictions in the investigative report, pointing out that some contracts mentioned were not signed during his tenure.
The former ECG boss assured his full cooperation with any forensic audit initiated by the Energy Minister, stating that his intent was not to evade the matter but to provide clarity.
Responding to claims that GH₵5 million was allocated to clear the containers, Mahama strongly rejected suggestions that the funds were made available directly to him.
“When you talk about the GHS 5 million, who said it was made available to me?” he questioned, urging for a clearer understanding of the full investigative report.
He explained that discussions on the matter were still ongoing with the Ministry of Finance at the time of his departure from ECG.
Mahama insisted that a thorough investigation must include a full review of all terminals at the port, pointing to the existence of multiple terminals, including Atlas.
He dismissed any claims of being involved in a syndicate, questioning, “What would be my aim in being part of a syndicate to take containers out?”
