A major illegal operation involving the melting of high-tension cables belonging to the Electricity Company of Ghana (ECG) for the production of aluminum poles for export has been uncovered by National Security officials.

Two companies have been identified as key players in the illicit trade, with eight Chinese nationals and two Ghanaians arrested on Thursday, March 27, 2025, in connection with the case. The arrests are part of a broader probe into the disappearance of over 1,300 ECG containers from the port, an issue that has raised concerns over the security of state assets.

On Friday, March 28, National Security officials, accompanied by Energy Minister John Jinapor and a group of journalists, visited the manufacturing facilities in Kpong, where the illegal activities had reportedly been ongoing since 2019. The investigation revealed that ECG cables were being acquired at significantly low prices, melted down, and repurposed into aluminum poles for export.

Chief Superintendent Alhassan Osman, Director of Investigations at the National Security Council, confirmed that intelligence had linked the operations to a long-standing illicit trade.

“From the intel we have here, this has been ongoing for so many years. They were producing this from ECG cables and so it is not a new thing, and you can imagine the money they make. The cables are sold to them cheap,” he stated.

Following the tour of the manufacturing sites, Energy Minister John Jinapor assured the public that those responsible would be held accountable and that efforts would be made to recover the missing containers.

“Since 2019, this crime is being perpetuated on the state. The then government slept on it. This government will not allow this to continue, and as Minister, I will ensure that we curtail this. We will follow and retrieve these containers. I want my containers, simple as that,” Jinapor declared.

Authorities have intensified investigations into the matter, with further actions expected to dismantle the illegal network and prevent future losses to the state.