Energy Minister John Jinapor has issued a strong warning that the government will ensure the full prosecution of those responsible for the disappearance of over 1,300 containers belonging to the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG).
He emphasized that the state will not tolerate any interference or claims of political witch-hunting as it seeks to recover the stolen assets.
“When we [the government] start prosecuting these people, let nobody come and say the government is witch-hunting. These are properties of the state, and we will use every legitimate and legal means to ensure that we retrieve them and hold all those behind these acts accountable,” Jinapor declared in an interview on TV3’s News Central on Thursday, March 27.
The minister confirmed that National Security operatives have retrieved 40 of the missing containers at a terminal in Kpone, which is linked to an Indian national. The suspect, who has been arrested, claims the containers were sold to him last year.
“The information I got this morning is that already they have traced about 40 containers to a particular terminal or warehouse in Kpone, which belongs to an Indian national. They have confiscated all the 40 containers and moved them to a secured location. The man indicates that those containers were sold to him last year,” Jinapor stated.
However, he made it clear that this claim does not absolve anyone of responsibility, adding that law enforcement agencies will investigate further and ensure due process is followed.
“There are also reports of some other areas where they are picking intelligence. They will trace all of them, retrieve all the containers as soon as possible, and put the perpetrators before a court of competent jurisdiction,” he added.
Jinapor stressed that the government’s commitment to fighting corruption and protecting state resources remains firm. He dismissed any potential claims that legal action against those involved would be politically motivated.
“The government will not be deterred by claims of witch-hunting. We cannot sit back and watch public assets disappear without taking action. The law will take its course, and all those behind this will face justice,” he asserted.
Background
The ongoing investigations follow a shocking revelation that more than 1,300 containers meant for the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) have gone missing from the Tema Port.
An investigative committee, chaired by Prof. Innocent Senyo Acquah, discovered discrepancies in ECG’s records, which initially listed 2,491 uncleared containers. However, an independent audit at the port found only 1,134 containers, leaving 1,347 unaccounted for.
The report, which was presented to Energy Minister John Jinapor, also revealed that before 2022, ECG had a dedicated fund to clear these containers weekly. However, the practice was halted by the ECG board, citing a lack of funds.
Source: 3news.com