The recent procurement scandal involving some 1,300 missing containers belonging to the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) is fast becoming another forgotten story that starkly illustrates how political interference and the media’s contrived disinterest, continue to undermine the public interest.
It has been more than a fortnight, since the damning revelations about ECG’s procurement practices came to light, showing how billions of cedis were lost through the questionable importation of thousands of containers filled with electrical materials—cables, meters, transformers, and poles—meant to improve power distribution across Ghana.
This shocking disclosure of waste, close to US$500 million, was brought to national attention by a committee established by the Minister of Energy, John Abdulai Jinapor. Its mandate was to investigate the alarming inefficiencies and suspected corruption plaguing ECG.
For a moment, it appeared that the system was finally responding. Ghanaians expressed relief and hope that the longstanding holes in ECG’s operations, had finally been exposed. Expectations soared: culprits would be punished, reforms would follow, and Ghana’s power sector might finally begin to heal.
However, those expectations now seem premature. The initial momentum, appears to be fading. Public institutions responsible for enforcing justice—particularly the security agencies—seem to have gone silent.
Despite the scale and gravity of the losses, there is no visible progress in prosecuting those implicated. Insiders suggest this sudden inaction is no accident; political forces are reportedly working overtime to ensure the scandal dies a quiet death.
Sources within ECG and the government, claim politicians from both major parties are behind efforts to suppress the investigation.
Some former ECG executives said contracts were inflated and manipulated to siphon funds for political campaign financing. These allegations imply that political actors have a direct interest in shielding certain individuals from prosecution and avoiding disclosures.
With political protection on both sides of the aisle, those involved may be effectively insulated from justice. It appears the former ECG executives are holding current politicians to ransom for what they did for them in opposition.
Even more troubling are claims that, significant sums of money are being funnelled into lobbying efforts aimed at silencing the story.
According to information gathered by The Herald, some ministers have allegedly held meetings with key actors in the scandal, discussing ways to contain the fallout. These discussions reportedly involved financial incentives to influence officials and shape the narrative.
Meanwhile, some ECG contractors involved in the procurement have been seen actively engaging with government officials, lobbying for early payments of outstanding bills—even though they are reportedly complicit in the scandal.
Deep sources within ECG indicate that the current management, has resisted pressure to authorize payments to these companies. However, officials within the Ministry of Energy, are said to be pressuring ECG to settle some of these contracts, regardless of the irregularities under which they were signed—many during the tenure of former ECG Managing Director, Samuel Dubik Mahama.
Under Mahama’s leadership, several procurement decisions were made without adherence to the Public Procurement Authority (PPA) Act. Contracts were awarded without competitive bidding, and equipment was brought in without proper needs assessment or logistical planning.
This resulted in unnecessary expenditure and the accumulation of idle equipment at the port, attracting demurrage, while Ghanaians continued to suffer frequent power cuts and unreliable service.
Even as the financial damage becomes clearer, efforts to uncover the full truth are being frustrated. Reports suggest a deliberate attempt to hijack the media space. Journalists and media houses that have attempted to cover the ECG scandal have reportedly been offered inducements to abandon their investigations. Program managers at several stations are said to have been asked to drop or dilute critical stories. This explains the silence on many platforms about the ECG scandal.
Despite this, a few media organizations have refused to back down. TV3, in particular, has continued to demand transparency and accountability, standing firm even as high-profile lobbying intensifies to force silence. However, pressure continues to mount, and there is growing concern about how long such independent voices can hold out against the tide. Already, The Herald is aware of one programme manager at the media house who has already gone to the camp of former ECG executives.
The Herald is aware of a newspaper editor who was paid GHc20,000 by a management member of Ghana Ports and Harbour Authority (GPHA) and a family member of one of those indicted in the missing container report to promote stories that project Dubik Mahama instead.
While shocking in detail, this scandal is part of a broader and more concerning trend. Corruption in procurement is a recurring issue in Ghana’s public sector. The Ghana Integrity Initiative has repeatedly identified public procurement as one of the most vulnerable areas for corruption.
Moreover, the Public Accounts Committee of Parliament, has regularly flagged irregularities in state-owned enterprises without meaningful consequences or systemic reforms.
ECG, which plays a central role in the nation’s energy delivery, is particularly vulnerable. ECG faces persistent liquidity issues with debts estimated at over GHS 68 billion to independent power producers and other suppliers. The funds squandered through procurement corruption could have helped address the financial gap and improve power reliability. Instead, they have lined private pockets and financed political campaigns.
At the heart of this issue is the erosion of institutional independence. If ECG management cannot resist political interference and if regulatory bodies remain powerless or complicit, then no reform can succeed. What Ghana needs is not just another investigation but a fundamental shift in how public procurement is conducted, monitored, and enforced.
The ECG scandal must not be allowed to fade into obscurity. It is more than a financial issue—it is a test of Ghana’s resolve to confront corruption, restore public trust, and protect national resources from political predators. If this moment is lost, it will signal to all future wrongdoers that accountability is optional, and corruption pays.
The stakes are high. Ghanaians deserve answers and justice. The country cannot afford to let this become just another cautionary tale buried under political compromise and media silence. The ECG mess is not just about cables and transformers—it is about the soul of public service in Ghana.
