By Richmond Keelson, Ontario, Canada

Ghana is once again entangled in a massive scandal. Amidst a litany of brazen thefts, we are now faced with the shocking case of electricity cable theft at the Tema Port. Beyond the National Service Scheme scandal, the alleged blatant thievery at National Security, and other damning accusations against top officials of the past regime, who would have thought that, yet another festering sore of corruption was lurking at our ports? But that is the case. 

According to Deputy Attorney General Justice Srem Sai, several individuals who purchased electrical cables belonging to the Electricity Company of Ghana have been apprehended and are assisting with investigations. The almost 40-member group includes Indians, Chinese and fellow Ghanaian nationals.

It is deeply disheartening that these individuals managed to reduce such expensive infrastructure—worth millions of cedis—into scrap, melting the wires and selling them off in bits and pieces. What’s even more alarming is that these stolen items were kept in a highly secured area at Tema Port. How did they evade security surveillance and slip past customs officials on duty to land in some secluded areas of Kpone? 

This unfolding scandal raises many unanswered questions. Ghanaians deserve accountability! From the available reports, the theft occurred in 2024. As expected, this has become yet another opportunity for political maneuvering. The usual NDC-NPP divide is shaping the narrative, with each side framing the scandal to suit its agenda. Predictably, many NDC supporters argue that any lapses in security and oversight should be blamed on the previous administration.

Indeed, this is an issue that should squarely fall at the doorstep of those managing the country’s energy sector—and rightly so! In this regard, former Energy Minister Mathew Opoku Prempeh, his deputy, former ECG Managing Director, Samuel Dubik Mahama, and the immediate past Board Chairman of the Electricity Company, Hon. Alexznder Afenyo-Markin, owe Ghanaians serious answers and explanations.

They could even face charges of dereliction of duty, and if the Attorney General decides to take that route, it would be justified. What’s even more troubling is that the exact size or number of stolen cable containers remains unclear. This uncertainty raises concerns that we may never fully grasp the extent of the theft. 

During the transitional process, when the missing containers were first disclosed, it became evident that the previous administration was unaware of the exact quantity stolen. This led to conflicting figures being reported by the energy minister—John Jinapor, until he personally visited Tema Port to verify and confirm that some 1337 cables have been stolen. 

Who are the Ground Managers of Tema Port?

While some high-profile personalities, as mentioned, may need to take responsibility for the theft, there are also other key custodians within the chain of duty at Tema Port who must be held accountable. These include the Ghana Ports and Harbours Authority, the rightful custodians, and regulators of the Tema port.

Additionally, the Customs Division, though not directly responsible for the day-to-day operations of the port, cannot be overlooked in the chain of investigations. Their role in overseeing goods and ensuring compliance makes them a crucial part of any inquiry into the matter.

Of grave concern, however, is the account given by the former Chairman of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) of Parliament, who claims that after their investigations, PAC recommended to the immediate past Attorney General the prosecution of individuals found culpable in the act.

According to Klutse Avedzi, the Attorney General rebuffed their call, leaving the issue unresolved. Avedzi’s revelation adds another layer of concern to the case. The immediate question is: which possible suspects did PAC recommend for investigation and prosecution?

Suffice it to say, this issue has long been within the domain of Parliament and is well-known within executive circles, where Matthew Opoku Prempeh and Herbert Krapa were key figures in Ghana’s energy sector. Given this, there is a strong possibility that, as the Chief Executive Officers of the country, both President Akufo-Addo and his Vice were aware of this blatant cable theft.

Or, as is often the case, was the transmission of such a serious matter deliberately curtailed before it could reach the official residence of the presidency? Today, the Minority Leader—who, at the time of the theft, was part of the Majority—is now taking a self-righteous stance, suggesting that rather than politicizing the case, Parliament should present a united front to deal with the culprits. 

However, from Avedzi’s account, it appears that the leadership of Parliament, including both the Majority and Minority, may have been aware of the conspiratorial theft. The situation becomes even murkier when one considers that Afenyo-Markin, the then Majority Leader, was also the Chairman of the Board of Directors of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG). Additionally, Lubik Mahama, the Managing Director of ECG, resigned from his position just before the 2024 elections.

Is it not worth investigating why he resigned? Could his departure be linked to the cable theft, possibly due to a lack of support in tracking down the perpetrators? But the biggest issue within the conundrum is the readily available market for such materials. It’s a cabal that I believe have been doing business with the port syndicate for years. 

Former President Mills in one of his surprise duty tours of the Tema Port expressed shock at the level of corruption at the port. Unfortunately, Mills’ efforts became stagnated because successive governments could not follow up to deal with the cabal and their conspiratorial accomplices.