Minister for Energy and Green Transition, John Abdulai Jinapor, has called for full legal action against individuals implicated in the recent ECG container controversy, insisting that recovering the assets is not enough without prosecuting those responsible.

Speaking at the Government Accountability Series in Accra on Wednesday, July 16, Mr Jinapor addressed the long-standing saga involving missing containers belonging to the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG).

“Retrieving the containers is only part of the solution,” the Minister stated. “We have two issues to deal with. Yes, we’ve retrieved almost all the containers, if not all, but those who were involved in all that—I hold the view that the law should deal with them, and that is my position.”

The ECG container issue, which sparked public outcry earlier this year, involved the disappearance of essential electrical equipment meant for national distribution projects. The recovery of the containers has since been confirmed, but concerns over accountability remain.

Mr Jinapor emphasised that government agencies must not merely focus on asset recovery but also ensure justice is served to deter future misconduct.

Turning to the issue of power theft, the Minister revealed that the Ministry is collaborating closely with ECG and the Northern Electricity Distribution Company (NEDCo) to curb illegal electricity connections and recover lost revenue.

However, he noted that the process has not been without challenges. “Recently, some of our staff were attacked when they went on their routine to ensure that we recover revenue as much as we can,” he said, condemning the acts of violence against field officers.

He made a direct appeal to residents in NEDCo’s operational zones, particularly in northern Ghana, to support the government’s efforts in combating electricity theft.

“Let me use the opportunity to appeal to all the people in the NEDCo area, in particular, to collaborate with us. It is for the good of the country to ensure that we are able to supply power,” he urged.

Mr Jinapor reiterated the government’s commitment to strengthening accountability measures in the energy sector while promoting public cooperation to safeguard the nation’s power supply.