The Minister of Energy and Green Transition, John Abdulai Jinapor, has disclosed that cables belonging to the Electricity Company of Ghana which are part of items stolen from the missing 1,300 shipping containers were found being smelted into aluminum rods at a warehouse where the items were found.
“Clearly, as you can see, these are ECG cables. They are meant to be used by ECG, but they end up in these factories, where they are melted down to produce aluminium rods. That is criminal,” he stated during an inspection of warehouses where the missing cables were uncovered.
Mr. Jinapor made these remarks on Friday, March 28, 2025, during a visit to Dangfang Company Ltd and Ponlok Manufacturing Company Ltd near Shai Hills, as well as a warehouse in Kpone.
He was accompanied by officials from the energy ministry as they toured smelting facilities and warehouses, where cable drums marked as ECG property were being melted down for export.
“We will do everything we can to trace these containers because they have serial numbers and manifests. We will ensure that the law takes its course,” he assured.
Beyond the issue of missing cables, the minister also criticized the financial mismanagement within ECG, highlighting reckless procurement practices that have plunged the company into a financial crisis.
“They engaged in frivolous over-expenditure, procuring items they did not have the money to clear, and that is what has brought us to this point,” he remarked.
He further revealed alarming figures, stating, “The same thing happened in 2023. Their planned procurement was less than $1 billion, yet they ended up procuring $8.3 billion—more than $7.3 billion over the approved amount. In 2023, they procured $8.3 billion; in 2024, they procured $8.2 billion. This is over 700% more than what was approved.”
Source: mynewsgh.com
