.. Billing of lading and chassis changed from 1972 to 2002, for Akufo-Addo’s inspection
The Herald’s investigation into the procurement of Cold War armoured vehicles from Azerbaijan, has uncovered a web of deceit involving falsifying documents and misleading then-President Nana Akufo-Addo, the Commander-in-Chief of the Ghana Armed Forces.
Those behind the US$8.8 million procurement, reportedly deceived President Akufo-Addo, into believing the vehicles were manufactured in 2002 by altering their chassis numbers. The vehicles were produced in 1972, making them 53 years old, not 30, as was falsely claimed by changing their chassis numbers.
The bill of lading accompanying the armoured personnel carriers (APCs) falsely stated the year of manufacture as 2002—an apparent act of fraud. However, production of the BTR-70, ceased in 1984, following the introduction of its successor, the BTR-80.
The 20 military vehicles were procured and shipped to Ghana, despite their rust, torn upholstery, perforations, and other visible defects. Seventeen of these scrapped military vehicles are currently lying idle at Burma Camp, Accra, the Recce regiment.
One Alhaji Tafid of Messrs Double ST Limited, the supplier, also owns Messrs Ramelsco Company and Messrs Akanni Logistics.
This same supplier was previously behind the procurement of bulletproof Toyota Land Cruisers and a bulletproof Lexus vehicle for the Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Thomas Oppong-Peprah, and other top military officials.
The General was in Azerbaijan to inspect the scrapped tanks before they were shipped to Ghana.
The original manufacturers of the tanks—Arzamas Machine-Building Plant (AMZ), Gorky Automobile Plant (GAZ), and others—have since developed improved models with enhanced capabilities and advanced security features.
The tanks in question, BTR-70 8×8 wheeled APCs, were initially manufactured by the former Soviet Union in 1972.
They were sourced from Azerbaijan and supplied by Messrs Double ST Limited at a reported cost of US$440,000 each, totalling US$8.8 million.
Unlike the BTR-70, which operates on dual petrol engines unless retrofitted, the BTR-80, is powered by a single diesel engine. The BTR-80, has also undergone significant improvements, leading to the BTR-82 and the more advanced BTR-82A.
Some experts have asked, if the manufacturer discontinued the vehicle decades ago in favour of newer, more efficient versions, how can the procurement of these obsolete and deteriorated hulks be justified?
According to documents available to The Herald, each BTR-70 APC, was procured for approximately US$440,000, for a total of US$8.8 million.
The Ghana Army, then led by General Oppong Peprah, acquired the 20 BTR-70 APCs for peace support operations. These were supplied by Messrs Double ST Limited and traced to Azerbaijan, a Eurasian country located in the South Caucasus and a former Soviet republic.
The BTR-70, was initially produced in the late 1960s. In 1985, it was succeeded by the BTR-80, which was briefly replaced by the BTR-90. The BTR-82 and BTR-82A, are the current operational models.
The BTR-70 is a versatile, eight-wheeled amphibious APC initially equipped with two 6-cylinder, 115 hp GAZ-69B petrol engines.
In specific operational theatres, some versions were upgraded with AMA-49-05 V8 petrol or diesel engines. Though an improvement over its predecessor, the BTR-60, the BTR-70, retained significant limitations, such as restricted troop access and a dual petrol engine configuration. By 2023, it had reached an operational age of 51 years, highlighting its obsolescence.
The BTR-70 APCs procured for Ghana, were retrofitted with diesel engines. However, critical components such as radiators and hoses were omitted, rendering the vehicles defective and inefficient. They were delivered in a visibly worn condition.
To improve their appearance, personnel from the Electrical and Mechanical Engineering (EME) Corps at the 153 Armoured Regiment’s parade square undertook cosmetic refurbishments, including respraying and reupholstering the interiors. These efforts aimed to create an illusion of presentability ahead of their commissioning by then-President Akufo-Addo.
In addition to wear and tear, the APCs arrived without their primary armament—the 14.5mm KPVT heavy machine gun, an integral part of the BTR-70 design. While the secondary 7.62mm PKM co-axial machine guns were delivered and test-fired, the main weapons only arrived in 2024. To date, they remain untested due to the vehicles’ unserviceable state.
Contrary to best practices, the APCs were delivered in poor condition, lacking essential spare parts, specialised tools, or maintenance equipment. Even basic items such as spare tyres were absent.
The APCs presented a range of defects and operational issues, including Oil and lubricant leaks causing engines to overheat after minimal use, Faulty braking and clutch systems, Unserviceable rear camera monitors, the Absence of intra- and inter-vehicle communication systems, Blurred vision blocks and side mirrors impairing visibility, Plastic, non-bulletproof windscreens vulnerable to small arms fire, and endangering drivers and commanders.
Following commissioning, seven of the APCs—described by some as “death traps”—were deployed to Abyei, Sudan, for use by the Ghanaian battalion under the United Nations Interim Security Force for Abyei (UNISFA). Due to their poor condition, they were transported on low-bed trailers from Burma Camp to Tema Port.
A forward repair team (FRT) was later dispatched to Abyei to restore functionality. Despite their efforts, only one APC currently exhibits limited mobility. This lone vehicle operates using alternators salvaged from non-functional units.
The FRT corroborated the battalion’s concerns about excessive fuel consumption and chronic overheating, rendering the vehicles unfit for use. Since they arrived in the area of operations on March 16, 2024, during GHANBATT 2’s deployment, the vehicles have not been operational.
This dire situation is not the fault of the troops, but rather reflects a lack of adequate equipment and protection, which puts them at great risk and compromises their mission.
A similar experience occurred in the early 2000s when the Armoured Corps used BTR-60 APCs during operations under the United Nations Mission in Sierra Leone (UNAMSIL), which were also fraught with difficulties. Was this not a warning enough to avoid these outdated models?
The decision to procure obsolete APCs undermines morale and contradicts the principle of prioritising troops’ welfare above the comfort or gain of senior officers. This aligns with the recent remarks by President John Dramani Mahama, the current Commander-in-Chief of the Ghana Armed Forces, at a commissioning ceremony on April 11, 2025.