Amid swirling controversy and conflicting reports over the status of thousands of containers belonging to the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), the Minister for Energy and Green Transition, John Abdulai Jinapor has firmly denied ever claiming that the containers were “missing.”

The Minister made this clarification during a tense session of the Parliamentary Select Committee on Energy, pushing back against media narratives and what he called “mischievous” interpretations of the situation.

The saga began in March 2025, when the Ministry, based on communication from ECG, disclosed that 2,491 containers containing critical electrical supplies had been left uncleared at the Tema Port.

The delay was attributed to ECG’s financial constraints.

In response, the Minister established an investigative committee chaired by Professor Innocent Senyo Acquah of the University of Cape Coast.

The committee’s initial report revealed that only 1,134 containers could be located out of the 2,491 listed, sparking fears that over 1,300 containers might be missing.

The report ignited a media firestorm and led to the involvement of the National Security, Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA), Customs, and the Ministry of Transport.
Fourteen individuals — including 10 foreign nationals — were arrested in March as suspicions grew about possible criminal syndicates operating within the port system.

However, a follow-up audit dramatically changed the narrative.

A May 2025 update from the Energy Ministry revealed that 2,637 containers had now been accounted for across various terminals, with many listed under the Uncleared Cargo List (UCL).

At the committee meeting, Deputy Ranking Member on Energy, Collins Adomako Mensah, criticized how the issue was initially framed by the media and public commentators.

“There was a rush into the media to create a certain impression — that something terribly wrong had happened,” Adomako remarked.

“Now we are being told that over 2,600 containers have been found at the same port. First of all, I think we have to be consistent.”

Jinapor said he remains consistent —“I never said they were missing”

He asserted that his comments had been mischaracterized.

“Let me make it clear that I’ve always been sober. I’ve remained consistent,” he said.

“What I said was that the committee report I received indicated that 1,300 containers could not be located. That is what I said — and that is a fact.”

According to Jinapor, acknowledging that containers couldn’t be found at the time did not amount to a declaration that they were permanently lost or stolen.

“You can say they are missing. But if something is missing, the logical thing is to look for it. What is wrong with trying to locate containers? If they were not missing, we would have found them instantly,” he explained.

He emphasized that the goal was not to win a debate over semantics but to ensure full accountability.

Jinapor hinted at internal lapses that needed addressing: “We must ask — how did we get here? Who slept on the job? That is what matters.”

Most Containers Accounted For

The Energy Ministry’s spokesperson, Richmond Rockson, had earlier clarified the audit results showing that 2,637 containers were located across various facilities as of late April. These included:

860 containers at Meridian Port Services

1,237 at GPHA terminals

272 evacuated by National Security

194 at Amaris Terminal

20 at ATLAS Manufacturing Terminal

Despite this, as of April 30, there were still 2,583 containers listed as outstanding, mostly because they exceeded the standard 60-day clearance window and had thus been marked under the UCL.

While the firestorm over the “missing” containers appears to be cooling, the committee hearing made one thing clear — the issue was not about political blame, but about administrative lapses and the need for accurate communication.

Both the Energy Minister and MPs on the committee appeared united on one front: the full tracing and clearing of every ECG container is the priority.

The Ministry insists that investigations are ongoing, and those found culpable of negligence or wrongdoing will be held accountable.