The Minority Leader and Member of Parliament for Effutu, Alexander Afenyo-Markin, has called on politicians to refrain from politicizing the ongoing controversy surrounding the missing Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) containers and instead focus on addressing systemic inefficiencies in state institutions.
Speaking on Eyewitness News on Citi FM on Friday, March 28, Afenyo-Markin, who is also the former Board Chair of the ECG, stressed the need for a bipartisan approach to resolving the crisis.
“People often see things in a very radioactive state, all because it has taken a partisan twist. I am saying that we can do better as politicians. Let us look at the root cause, solve that problem. Don’t let us say, It is an NPP problem, they caused it.
“The more we continue to do that, the more the system continues to cave in. We shouldn’t be so comfortable,” he stated.
His remarks come in the wake of revelations that over 1,300 ECG containers filled with essential equipment have gone missing at the Tema Port. An investigative report found discrepancies in the number of uncleared containers, raising concerns over potential mismanagement or corruption.
Energy and Green Transition Minister John Abdulai Jinapor has pledged to recover the missing containers or their monetary value, underscoring the importance of accountability in the sector.
In response, Afenyo-Markin has assured Jinapor of his support should he pursue a genuine overhaul of the system.
“I am assuring my respected friend Jinapor that if he is indeed committed to an overhaul, he should count on our support,” he stated.
The Minority Leader also emphasized the structural inefficiencies within state-owned enterprises (SOEs), noting that they contribute to recurrent crises.
“In a lot of our SOEs, there are structural inefficiencies that affect the state. I believe that let us use this issue to tackle it comprehensively and get all hands on deck. It doesn’t matter the party that is in power.”
Afenyo-Markin further lamented how political interference often exacerbates institutional problems, arguing that leaders should focus on sustainable solutions rather than partisan blame games.
—citinewsroom
