'A container is not like a piece of paper that you fold and throw away' – Former ECG boss

Former Managing Director of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), Samuel Dubik Mahama, has asserted that the 1,346 containers reported missing are still at the port.

According to him, containers cannot be cleared and released without the payment of duties and adherence to due processes at the port.

Speaking on TV3, in an interview monitored by GhanaWeb Business, the former ECG boss stated that every container has a unique number that can be tracked.

He emphasised the need for the Minister of Energy, John Jinapor, and other key stakeholders to investigate the matter further.

Mahama urged these individuals to visit other terminals, engage with shipping lines, and explore all possible avenues to locate the "missing" containers belonging to ECG.

“I strongly believe that the containers are at the port... There are only two entities that have control over those containers. The discussion is that those containers are at the port, under the custody of GPHA and Ghana Customs," he said.

"ECG hasn’t paid its duty, fine. But why auction a container belonging to ECG without ECG’s knowledge? Because, in my candid opinion, that’s the only way a container can leave the port," the former ECG boss stated.

He added, “A container is not like a piece of paper that you fold and throw away. In international supply chain logistics, a container has a unique number. There are processes at the port; let’s go through those processes."

It may be recalled that the Chairman of the investigative committee, Prof. Innocent Senyo Acquah, disclosed that while ECG claimed to have 2,491 uncleared containers filled with cables and other essential equipment, an independent audit at the port found only 1,134 containers, leaving 1,357 unaccounted for.

The issue of the missing ECG containers, which remain locked at the Tema Port and were intended for clearance, has raised significant concerns among stakeholders in the power industry and the general public.

Before 2022, ECG had a dedicated fund that received weekly allocations for clearing shipments.

However, the practice was discontinued due to a lack of funds, according to the ECG board.

Despite financial constraints, ECG awarded contracts to two firms to clear the containers, one of which was pre-financed by ECG.

One of these companies lacked the necessary license to handle the contract, raising concerns about procurement violations.

Additionally, ECG’s procurement directorate had been merged with its Housing and Estate unit.

The Director of Procurement had no prior experience in procurement and was not a member of any professional procurement body.

Former ECG MD Dubik Mahama insists ‘missing’ containers are still at the port#TV3GH

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— #TV3GH (@tv3_ghana) April 3, 2025

SA/MA

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