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The Mahama administration has recovered all five armored cars from ex-Chief of Defence Staff General Thomas Oppong-Peprah and his fellow service chiefs after disclosures were made. The Herald concerning their unauthorized acquisition.
The retired officers were instructed to return the vehicles following reports that indicated these assets had been obtained without the prior government’s consent.
The armored Toyota Land Cruiser 300 GXR models bought from Dubai are presently stored with PR&D, which is part of the Defence Procurement Wing within the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF).
Initially, all the vehicles came in an army green color, with one exception: a 2023 Lexus LX 600 that was black and bore the chassis number JTJPB7CX2P4023225. This particular vehicle is thought to remain under the possession of the ex-Chief of Defence Staff. According to reports, these cars were later repainted black.
The Mahama administration responded to demands for an inquiry and instructed the return of the vehicles, which were with multiple retired officials. These automobiles had been taken directly by those individuals upon arrival in the nation.
These individuals include General Oppong-Peprah, the ex-Chief of Naval Staff (CNS) Vice Admiral Issah Adam Yakubu, the previous Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Lieutenant General Bismarck Kwasi Onwona, the erstwhile Chief of Air Staff (CAS) Air Marshal Frederick Asare Kwasi Bekoe, as well as the former Chief of Staff Lieutenant General Joseph Prince Osei Owusu.
The officers allegedly defended their use of the bulletproof vehicles by referring to an incident where a Nigerian Brigadier was shot. Nevertheless, according to regulations, they should be entitled only to a sedan and a pickup truck, not the bulletproof Toyota Land Cruisers; previous Chiefs of Defense Staff (CDS) have never utilized such vehicles.
Formally, the former military officials stated that the prior Armed Forces Council had endorsed the deal. Yet, inquiries showed that this endorsement was never actually issued.
The acquisition procedure was marred by anomalies, notably significant overcharging. According to military documents, every unit was bought at a cost of $285,000, even though custom records listed an imported price of $160,000.
Six vehicles were brought into the country and cleared under the name of the Ghana Armed Forces. Nonetheless, only five of these vehicles were documented as official military assets.
Later, the customs duties for the Lexus were settled privately by General Oppong-Peprah, which raised queries concerning whether it should be considered part of his private possessions. This also sparked doubts about the intentions of both him and the individuals who imported it.
A letter of apology dated March 21, 2025, signed by Brigadier General E.K. Commey, was aimed at clarifying inconsistencies related to the acquisition process.
The correspondence, labeled "Correction to Inspection and Monitoring Report Order for Armored Toyota Land Cruiser 300 GXR for the Ghana Armed Forces," brought additional worries to light.
In his correspondence, he mentioned: The department regrets the unintentional utilization of an incorrect Procurement Order Form (DFB 1997) when inspecting the five Armored Toyota Land Cruisers provided under Reference A. It should have been conducted using the Procurement Order Form (DFB 1997), with order number E1/2407, dated July 9, 2024, as specified in Reference B.
The vehicle specifications listed in the Procurement Order Form (DFB 1997), under Order No: E1/2407 from July 9, 2024, match those of the delivered vehicles.
It is advised that MESSRS RAMELSCO COMPANY LTD should receive an amount of One Million, Three Hundred Thousand United States Dollars ($1,300,000.00). This sum covers the expense for five (5) Armoured Toyota Land Cruiser 300 GXR vehicles provided."
Oddly enough, Brigadier General Commey was not included in the initial military inspection team. It is also uncertain if he ordered a follow-up examination of the five vehicles subsequent to the disagreement between the Armed Forces and the contractor. The Herald The report unveiled the problem.
The debate around the acquisition procedures, excessive pricing, and the holding onto vehicles by former officials has sparked significant concerns regarding openness and responsibility within the GAF.
There are ongoing demands for additional inquiries as parties involved seek transparency regarding the execution of the transaction and debate whether penalties should be imposed on the individuals concerned.
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