Former ECG Boss Holds NDC Ministers Hostage in Mud Hut: An Unfathomable Waste
...Friendship and business connections highlighted
The Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) finds itself entangled in yet another scandal, sparking renewed worries about persistent mismanagement and corruption at the state-run company.
In spite of repeated warnings issued by the Public Utilities Regulatory Commission (PURC), civil society organizations (CSOs), as well as exposés published by investigative journalists—which have highlighted this issue—the situation has not improved. The Herald —political elites and segments of the media either overlooked or actively opposed oversight of ECG’s activities.
Currently, as details emerge regarding vanished shipping containers at the port, focus has shifted back to the long-standing wrongdoing that has resulted in significant losses for Ghana amounting to billions of cedi.
Among the numerous concerning incidents at ECG, Samuel Dubik Mahama’s time as Managing Director was notably catastrophic.
During his tenure, ECG experienced considerable decline in both financial health and operational efficiency. He aimed to control public opinion via targeted media appearances, forming political partnerships, and carefully managed dealings with civil society organizations.
Nevertheless, beneath the surface, procurement malpractices, conflicts of interest, and irresponsible mismanagement flourished. This encompassed indiscriminate purchasing, the designation of unqualified individuals as directors, and the advancement of cronies to crucial managerial roles.
A prominent example is Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, Dr Dominic Ayine, who had the opportunity to order an inquiry into Dubik but was formerly acting as his legal counsel.
Reports indicate that a legal opinion written by Dr. Ayine supporting Dubik’s actions regarding ECG procurements is currently circulating among members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
Through Ayine & Partner, his legal practice, Dr. Ayine was also involved as the attorney for Fidelity Bank Ghana, which engaged in financial dealings with the ECG while Dubik Mahama was in office.
Furthermore, the Minister for Energy and Green Transition, Dr John Jinapor, set up a cabinet committee which granted contracts to chosen providers bypassing competitive tender processes. As a result, this caused an inflated expenditure, far surpassing ECG’s allocated procurement funds by several billion cedis. Interestingly, he had earlier commended Dubik’s management skills.
The government's inquiry has revealed significant irregularities in procurement processes at ECG, indicating that Dubik Mahama granted contracts to particular suppliers bypassing the competitive bidding process.
This happened after the ECG’s Procurement Department collapsed and was subsequently merged with the Estate Department.
The ministerial committee set up by Dr. Jinapor and headed by Prof. Innocent Senyo Kwasi Acquah aimed to examine the acquisition and processing of around 2,500 containers at Tema Port. The investigation also brought light to substantial financial misconduct.
The review also revealed that among the 2,462 containers detailed in ECG’s Uncleared Containers List (UCL) as of January 31, 2025, 1,328 containers could not be traced, whereas 34 remained en route.
Neither the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority (GPHA) nor ECG could provide an explanation for the location of the missing containers, as stated by the committee.
An inspection of Tema Port showed that several containers were found open with missing contents. The committee blamed the prolonged clearance of these containers—which resulted in an astounding GH₵ 909.5 million in demurrage fees—on the neglect shown by ECG management.
ECG had allocated GH₵ 5 million each month for clearing containers, but stopped making these payments in 2022, which exacerbated the backlog issues.
Even though ECG cited budget limitations, they proceeded with contract awards surpassing authorized limits, leading to an accumulation of outstanding containers. By December 2024, this number had climbed to 2,491 unprocessed units.
The inquiry also revealed ECG's procurement processes, characterized by extravagant expenditures.
In 2022, ECG allocated GH₵ 225.4 million for conductors initially; however, they ultimately spent GH₵ 1.1 billion—an over expenditure of 404%.
The procurement process mainly involved single sources, such as contracts granted to Mint Logistics Ltd and Dawards Bond Ltd for container clearance, along with a Digital Payment Platform Services Agreement signed with Hubtel Ltd.
Extensive bulk breaking occurred, enabling contracts to stay below the Managing Director’s financial approval limit of USD 1 million.
A contract worth GHS 127,650,000, was awarded to a company not registered Customs House Agent, despite ECG being a self-declarant.
A minimum of 1,346 containers with an estimated value of four hundred eighty-nine million, ninety-nine thousand, two hundred forty-one dollars and sixty-two cents (USD 489,099,241.62) were unaccounted for. This includes valuable goods like transformers.
Despite claiming financial distress, ECG provided GHS 30 million in financing to Mint Logistics Ltd for clearance services.
Dawarts Bond Ltd, acting fraudulently, managed to clear 47 containers without settling the required duties and taxes, yet only handed over 46 of these containers to ECG, requesting GHS 5,290,000 for their services. The total amount of unpaid duties and taxes came to GHS 4,799,763.43.
The ECG did not adhere to the Public Procurement Act of 2003 (Act 663), which has been updated since then. Additionally, their reasoning for being exempt from following this act when utilizing self-generated funds was deemed legally unsound.
It was suggested that GPHA look into how a firm transported ECG containers from the port undetected.
The report suggested holding both former and current ECG management officials responsible for the disappearance of 1,328 containers via a comprehensive forensic examination. Additionally, it stated that the PPA ought to look into instances of non-compliance regarding procurements and apply penalties as per the Public Procurement Act.
Following these discoveries, National Security agents detained twelve Chinese citizens and one individual from Ghana on March 27, 2025.
It is alleged that they improperly handled stolen electrical cables that originated from a smelting plant located in Shai Hills. Furthermore, authorities found 40 missing shipping containers at a storage site in Kpone, resulting in the apprehension of an individual of Indian descent. This person stated that they had lawfully bought these containers earlier in the preceding year. The investigation continues to unfold.
The ECG procurement scandal underscores systematic failures in purchasing processes, insufficient monitoring, and fiscal mismanagement, which have significant repercussions for Ghana’s power industry and government budgeting.
As the legal process moves forward, it remains unclear whether those responsible for orchestrating ECG’s financial downfall will truly be held accountable.
One of the most shocking disclosures recently concerns ECG acquiring electrical cables purportedly to aid in expanding the power distribution system, only for those very cables to end up being sold for recycling instead.
Rather than focusing on expanding infrastructure, ECG’s leadership, reportedly led by Dubik Mahama, supposedly favored arrangements that primarily advantaged a chosen minority, detrimental to overall national progress.
Even though substantial proof of these violations has accumulated, Dubik Mahama and his close associates, functioning without restraint, seem shielded by an establishment hesitant to bring them to justice.
The latest controversy surrounding more than 1,000 missing ECG containers at the port has raised questions about the government’s actual position regarding corruption within the state utility.
Arrests have taken place, primarily focusing on foreign individuals suspected of buying ECG cables via online sales, yet the main culprits, who were solely focused on obtaining more and more, continue to indulge themselves with drinks in expensive glasses, assured of their impunity.
A glaring question remains: Why has Dubik Mahama, the man at the center of these procurement breaches, not been the primary target of government action? This is fueling speculation and confirmation of rumours of the complicity of key ministers currently responsible for taking action.
The Attorney General plays a crucial role in this developing saga, and their past connection with ECG sparks potential conflicts of interest.
When civil society organizations (CSOs) attempted to hold the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) responsible for circumventing procurement laws, the Attorney General was among the most vocal supporters arguing that ECG ought to be excused from following regular regulatory procedures.
The stance he took in the Fidelity Bank versus CSOs lawsuit bolstered doubts that his legal tactics were geared towards personal gains rather than the welfare of the general public.
Further complicating matters, The Herald has revealed that the Attorney General recently had a meeting with Dubik Mahama during the continuing investigations into his time at ECG.
These issues raise doubts about whether the legal system is being utilized to protect, instead of punish, individuals accountable for ECG’s severe financial losses.
Apparently, this meeting has stirred up discomfort among members of the National Democratic Congress (NDC), whereas it has provided a feeling of reassurance and ease for certain individuals within the New Patriotic Party (NPP).
A significant player in this drama is the Energy Minister, who launched inquiries into the vanished shipping containers yet currently confronts a trustworthiness dilemma. Considering his previous support for Dubik Mahama, colleagues are uncertain about his commitment to thoroughly investigating the issue.
When the Akufo-Addo government ultimately chose to dismiss Dubik Mahama from ECG, John Jinapor emerged as one of his strongest advocates.
He stated that Dubik Mahama was being removed due to resistance against the pressures exerted by the President’s close associates—a claim that numerous observers within the industry deemed deceptive.
Actually, Dubik Mahama’s removal from office stemmed from procurement irregularities, leadership shortcomings, and questionable appointments at ECG. This included establishing roles for unqualified people. When his termination letter was prematurely disclosed to him prior to official delivery, he chose to resign as a result.
Once more, well-known figures in the media focused on the resignation to make sure it remained etched in the public’s memory instead of the dismissal orchestrated by the former chief of staff, which was previously mentioned by the present Energy Minister.
Even with his checkered past, Mahama aimed to reclaim his position at ECG following the NDC’s election win, apparently encouraged by his connections to the Energy Minister while the party was in opposition. This has sparked additional queries regarding the minister's commitment to accountability within ECG.
Those who believe that this recent scandal might at last lead to some form of responsibility for ECG should have their expectations moderated.
The Mahama administration's targeted enforcement indicates that although certain minor figures might be offered up as sacrifices, the political elite are expected to shield their own interests.
This serves as a test case for President John Mahama and the present Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah, to gauge their genuine dedication to combating corruption, managing the conduct of ministers, and upholding electoral promises regarding anti-corruption efforts.
Given the Attorney General’s previous ties to ECG and the Energy Minister’s track record of supporting Dubik Mahama, doubts are mounting over whether the true culprits behind ECG’s issues will be held accountable. The billions of dollars squandered because of ECG’s poor management pose a significant strain on Ghana’s economy, but those at fault remain untouched by substantial repercussions.
Currently, public anger expressed through social media platforms and non-governmental organizations stands as one of the primary forces exerting pressure. Nonetheless, it is uncertain whether this will prove sufficient to compel genuine transformation.
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