The Public Utilities Workers Union (PUWU) has thrown its full support behind the Ministry of Energy’s ongoing investigation into the disappearance of essential electrical equipment meant for the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG).
The union says it is “deeply concerned” about the growing procurement issues within ECG, particularly the missing items that were reportedly sitting at the ports for months.
Speaking on The KeyPoints, PUWU General Secretary, Timothy Nyame made it clear that the union considers the sustainability of ECG a top priority—one that directly affects its membership and, by extension, its existence.
“You know, as PUWU, as a major stakeholder in ECG, sustainability of ECG is our main concern,” he said. “Without ECG, we don’t have members. Without members, then PUWU has no business in ECG.”
Mr. Nyame explained that the union has consistently engaged ECG management on procurement matters, particularly regarding items that have been delayed at the port.
“The issue of procurement and the procurement of items sitting at the port has been an issue of discussion with management over the period,” he revealed.
“Only to hear that about more than 1,000 containers have been missing. That’s why we issued a press statement asking the Minister and the team to continue to pursue the issue and get to the conclusion of it,” Nyame stated emphatically.
According to PUWU, accountability is essential—and those who played a role in the disappearance of these items must be held responsible.
“Those involved in this transaction should also be made accountable, to be held accountable and also answer questions of the action,” Nyame said.
PUWU is not only demanding answers, but also offering full support to the Ministerial Committee tasked with investigating the matter.
“All that we are saying is that we support the action of the Ministerial Committee on Investigation,” Nyame confirmed. “We are also saying they should try and identify the items and retrieve them for use at the company.”
He noted that procurement has always been a key area of concern for PUWU, even during discussions around private sector participation in ECG.
“Procurement issues are some of the issues we raised to government and for that matter the Minister during the issue of private sector participation,” he said. “We’re concerned about the procurement and how to handle and how to deal with them.”
Now that these procurement-related concerns have manifested into significant losses, Nyame says PUWU feels vindicated—and is more determined than ever to see action. “These items have been procured, sitting at the port and some are getting missing, actually we are concerned,” he stressed.
PUWU is not only demanding transparency and action but also pledging its full cooperation in efforts to trace the missing items.
“Efforts of the committee to locate, retrieve, and also deal with perpetrators—we will give our support. Very much,” Nyame declared.
