Probe Launched as Investigations Begin into Missing Cargo
The Minister for Energy and Green Transition, John Abdulai Jinapor, has officially reached out to the National Intelligence Bureau (NIB) to investigate the disappearance of 1,357 containers holding ECG materials, as the inquiry into the stolen cargo at Tema Port gains momentum.
In a letter dated Wednesday, April 2, 2025, Jinapor referenced a report from the Technical Committee he established to examine the situation where 1,346 out of 2,500 containers went missing at the port.
“The final report of the Committee revealed that 1,357 of these containers could not be accounted for, suggesting they are missing,” the letter stated.
This move is a significant step for concerned citizens demanding accountability and strict repercussions for anyone implicated in the scandal.
Expected in the coming days are invitations or possible arrests for former Managing Director Samuel Dubik Mahama, his successor, current MD, and others responsible during the time the containers were reported missing.
Alex Afenyo Markin, the recent past board chairman, is likely to be included in the list of individuals of interest, despite attempts to redirect blame from himself to management and civil servants.
Former MD, Dubik Mahama, recently broke his silence on the issue, expressing doubts about the containers being missing and suggesting they might still be within the port’s confines.
During a recent operation by the minister and National Security agents in the Afenya and Shai Hills areas, some companies were discovered to be in possession of items from the missing containers. Several individuals, including Ghanaians and Chinese nationals, were apprehended, while alleged Indian suspects remain at large.
The involvement of the NIB in the investigations is crucial as it will provide those implicated with an opportunity to present their side of the story.
Minister Jinapor affirmed that all former and current MDs will be thoroughly questioned as part of the inquiry. He highlighted discrepancies in procurement practices, such as orders exceeding approved budgets and the peculiar cycle of purchasing cables that ultimately need to be re-purchased after being exported and reprocessed in China.
The Minister carefully detailed instances where ECG procured more materials than necessary, causing financial strain and inefficiencies. The forensic analysis proposed by the NIB is essential to uncovering the truth behind the syndicate involved in this operation.