Ghana’s Energy and Green Transition Minister, Hon. John Abdulai Jinapor, has announced concrete steps to retrieve and utilise several containers of electrical materials belonging to the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) that have remained at Ghana’s ports for months.
The announcement was made during his address at the Government Accountability Series organised by the Presidency Communications.
“On the ECG containers, I have received approval from the Chief of Staff, and just this morning, I had a very fruitful meeting with the Minister of Finance on the same subject”.
Ghana’s Energy and Green Transition Minister, Hon. John Abdulai Jinapor
He disclosed that a multi-agency task force has been constituted to oversee the exercise. The task force will be led by the Deputy Minister of Energy and include representatives from the Customs Division of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA), ECG, National Security, and other relevant bodies.
Their primary mandate, according to the minister, will be to ensure the containers are evacuated to a specially designated customs-bonded warehouse.
“We intend to establish a custom bonded warehouse where we’d evacuate all the containers, take full stock and reconcile with all the figures to determine the exact number of containers that have been retrieved.”
Ghana’s Energy and Green Transition Minister, Hon. John Abdulai Jinapor
The reconciliation process, according to him, is essential to establish clarity on the contents and ownership of the materials.
Permission for Tax Exemption
In a significant policy direction, the Minister further revealed plans to seek parliamentary and cabinet approval to exempt the containers from taxation.
The rationale, he explained, is based on the critical nature of the items inside, which include materials urgently needed for Ghana’s ongoing electrification projects.
“Because there are some critical items in the containers, ECG will use some, the Ministry will also leverage some of the containers and embark on a massive intensification project when it comes to electricity expansion”.
Ghana’s Energy and Green Transition Minister, Hon. John Abdulai Jinapor
This expansion is not limited to rural areas but also includes underserved communities in urban centres. According to him, the country cannot afford to leave the valuable materials idle at the ports while continuing to spend taxpayer money on new equipment.
“We cannot have all these containers stacked there whilst we spend the taxpayers’ money to buy additional material,” he emphasized, underscoring the need for prudent use of existing resources.
Hon. Jinapor’s comments come at a time when Ghana’s energy infrastructure continues to face growing demands, both from increasing rural access initiatives and expanding urban developments.
The containers, believed to hold electrical poles, transformers, conductors, and other essential power infrastructure materials, have reportedly been delayed due to customs clearance bottlenecks and unresolved duty obligations.
By moving to consolidate and audit the materials in a bonded facility, the Energy Ministry hopes to streamline their deployment and bring relief to many areas currently awaiting power connections.
Government’s Commitment
The Minister did not specify the number of containers involved but insisted the government was committed to resolving the issue urgently and transparently.
The move, if fully implemented, is expected to improve efficiency in electricity extension projects and help the government avoid duplicative spending.
It also aligns with the broader agenda of the Ministry for Energy and Green Transition, which seeks to modernise and expand access to sustainable energy nationwide.
The Government Accountability Series serves as a platform for ministers and state agencies to provide detailed updates on the progress of key government policies and interventions.
Jinapor’s remarks not only provided insight into the ECG containers issue but also served to reinforce his Ministry’s commitment to transparency, fiscal responsibility, and practical energy sector reforms.
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