Former Managing Director of the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG), Samuel Dubik Mahama, has expressed relief that all the containers previously reported missing by the company have now been found.

Speaking on JoyNews’ Top Story on Friday, Mr Mahama said he was pleased that the matter had finally been resolved, stressing that the outcome shows there was no theft involved.

“I'm glad that we are all seeing the end of this matter. And it doesn't sound like anybody took a container away. It was clearly expressed when the Managing Director said they had found it all. So I think that matter – it was sad how it all came about.

"But I guess it was to happen that way for all of us to get the clarity that we needed and to get the whole conversation closed properly. Kudos to the current management and the team for working hard to get this sorted out,” he said.

Mr Mahama said the company had traced and found 1,000 containers, bringing closure to a matter that triggered public concern when news of the missing containers first broke.

He, however, suggested that misinformation and hearsay may have contributed to the initial panic over the matter.

“Gossip is the only thing that will create such a situation. Gossip aimed at maligning someone, gossip aimed at tarnishing someone's image, or tarnishing the image of the company, is the only thing that would lead to such a claim that brought this whole brouhaha within the country,” he said, commending ECG management and employees for working hard to fix the problem.

• Read also: ECG traces all missing containers, retrieves over 1,000 from port

Mr Mahama, however, cautioned against blaming the Energy Minister who first revealed the matter. He said the problem was more about how information was packaged and relayed, rather than an individual fault.

“Don’t blame the minister. How did the information get to the Minister? How was it gathered and sent to the Minister? Sometimes we are so quick to blame the top. Electricity issues don’t have particles—it’s red, gold, green with a black star.

"Let’s not personalize these things and start pointing fingers. The truth of the matter is that the matter is dead. We found it all. Let’s move on to the next big thing and see the company do very well,” he stressed.

Reflecting on lessons for the power sector, the former ECG boss urged management to base decisions on data and facts rather than emotions.

“ECG is a company that has a lot of potential. When decisions are being made, it shouldn’t be based on waves and caprices, but on facts. I wish everybody would stick to the facts, rally behind the Managing Director and the Minister, and work together to grow the company,” he said.

Mr Mahama reiterated that the containers were not missing but had been misplaced, and said collaboration with the Ghana Ports and Harbors Authority had resolved the issue.

“We have found them all, and we have taken some. Let’s keep giving the company a positive light, encouraging the staff, the management and everybody within ECG to do right by the good people of Ghana,” he added.