Broadcast journalist and show host on Wontumi TV/Radio, Godwin Asare-Bediako has boldly declared that the first suspect in the missing 1,300 ECG containers is the Minister for Energy and Green Transition, John Abdulai Jinapor.
An investigative report carried out uncovered the containers supposed to be cleared at the Tema Port cannot be accounted for by the port authorities.
Prof Innocent Senyo Acquah, the chairman of the committee that conducted the investigation noted that the ECG claimed to have 2,491 uncleared containers that comprised cables as well as other equipment belonging to ECG.
According to an independent audit at the port, they found only 1,134, leaving 1,347 unaccounted for.
Reacting to the news of the missing ECG containers, Godwin Asare-Bediako stated, “You said you had discussions with ECG, and they said they had a challenge. They imported containers but were unable to clear them due to a lack of funds and would have to pay demurrage charges. So you went with them to Tema Port to inspect and count the containers.
After that, you held a press conference and claimed that you had found about 3,000 containers, stated how much ECG owed at the port, and explained how the government would clear the debt. You then chastised the management of ECG for dereliction of duty, he stated.
He further added, “Just one month later, you now claim that you’ve conducted an audit and, out of the 3,000 containers you counted at the port, 1,350 cannot be accounted for. Almost half of the containers cannot be found.
The first suspect is John Jinapor. We Ghanaians didn’t even know that ECG had this quantity of containers. You were the one who put out that information, and now you are the same person claiming that the number has reduced by this much. So the first suspect is Jinapor. I have many scenarios in mind.
“It would be difficult and shocking for 1,350 containers to go missing within a month. If there is to be a probe into this matter, it must be conducted live on TV for all Ghanaians to watch”, Godwin Asare-Bediako emphatically stated.
There are supervisors at the port, National Security operatives, and port officials. Containers go through multiple processes before they are cleared.”
Meanwhile, the Minister of Energy John Jinapor has stated they are going to work with the Attorney General and the Police to retrieve the containers or the monetary value of the same.
John Jinapor stated, “The over 1,300 containers cannot vanish into thin air. We will work with the AG and the Police to ensure those responsible are brought to book to retrieve the containers or the monetary value of the same”.
“It cannot be business as usual. We are not targeting anybody, but we will make sure whoever is responsible will be held liable,” he added.
He further announced that the procurement unit at ECG would be dissociated within a week and promised to commence swift, far-reaching measures to reform procurement procedures at the company.
Additionally, speaking to CITI FM John Jinapor stated, “Let me assure the country, whatever it takes to hold people liable and retrieve the containers or monetary value of the containers, we will do that”.
“We are doing everything we can to get them to open the pipeline because that will impact power supply,” he said.
Jinapor added, “Once we are looking for money to pay for debt we inherited, others are profiting and benefiting through illegal means. We cannot allow that to continue.”
Watch the video below:
Just give them a couple of days, they will form a committee to further deplete the public purse on this issue pic.twitter.com/rKCqKhSfom
— Harrydarling💖 (@AcheampongHarry) March 26, 2025
