The Herald’s investigations into the purchase of five armoured vehicles by the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF), which have been compromised by some outgoing military chiefs, have revealed troubling developments, implicating the outgoing Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Thomas Oppong-Peprah, in what appears to be a bribery scandal.
On Wednesday, March 19, 2025, the CDS sent a letter to the Customs office in Tema to pay duty on a Lexus LX 600 2023 Model Black, chassis number JT JPB7CX2P4023225. However, investigations revealed that ,this Lexus was one of six armoured vehicles imported by Akanni Logistics, a private company owned by Alhaji Tafiq. The company did not win the contract, but was handpicked.
The Lexus, imported and long cleared from Tema Port in the name of the GAF, was now being processed by Eyerams Cargo Services on behalf of the CDS who had been in possession of the car since last year.
Five of the six vehicles, all armoured Toyota Land Cruiser 300 GXR (B6 Level), were sold to the GAF for use by the outgoing CDS and his service chiefs, including the Chief of Naval Staff (CNS), Vice Admiral Issah Adam Yakubu; the Chief of Army Staff (COAS), Lieutenant General Bismarck Kwasi Onwona; the Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Frederick Asare Kwasi Bekoe; and the Chief of Staff, Lieutenant General Joseph Prince Osei Owusu.
Upon arrival, the five black Toyota armoured vehicles were driven to the residences of these outgoing military chiefs. The Herald obtained the chassis numbers of these vehicles from the Tema Customs database: JTMAACBJIOP4036055, JTMAACBJOP4036346, JTMAACBJ1P4034685, JTMAACBJ2P4035439, and JTMAACBJ3P4034168.
Curiously, all six vehicles were procured in the name of the GAF and arrived on the same day per the Customs database, yet the Lexus, also an armoured vehicle, went to the CDS, as a special gift in addition to the Toyota Land Cruiser 300 GXR (B6 Level) already in his custody.
Multiple documents sighted by The Herald indicate that, although all the vehicles were shipped to the Ministry of Defence, Forces Movement Unit, Burma Camp, The Square Airport Bypass—Accra, with an invoice dated July 23, 2024, only the five armoured Toyota Land Cruiser 300 GXR (B6 Level) were recorded by military inspectors.
The vehicles had already been in the country before the contract was formalised. Strangely, certain military records failed to capture July 23, 2024; a letter dated January 29, 2025, stated that the contract to Akanni Logistics was awarded on January 29, 2025, and mentioned that the company accepted the offer the following day, January 30, 2025.
Intriguingly, some documents confirmed that although the vehicles arrived in Ghana late last year and were cleared in the name of the GAF, senior officers in the GAF’s procurement department, desperately processed documents to legitimise the transaction, including giving the impression it as squeaky clean.
Further investigations by The Herald uncovered discrepancies in pricing. Customs documents reveal that each vehicle, including the Lexus, was purchased for US$160,000. However, Akanni Logistics billed the GAF an inflated US$285,000 for each of the five Toyota armoured vehicles, making a profit of US$125,000 per vehicle.
The Herald’s investigations further reveal that although the GAF requested 2024/2025 models, Akanni Logistics supplied 2022 models, except for the Lexus given to the CDS, which was a 2023 model. This discrepancy should have been grounds for contract termination, but instead, the vehicles were delivered to the CDS and the service chiefs’ residences.
Additionally, Akanni Logistics, ignored the contract’s specifications, seemingly to accommodate the Lexus for the CDS or to maximise profit.
The company was not the original contractor, as Ramelsco Company Ltd. had won the bid to supply the vehicles for US$1,300,000. However, the contract was later awarded to Akanni Logistics, which supplied them at the cost US$1,425,000—an excess of US$125,000 per vehicle.
Akanni Logistics, Ramelsco Company Ltd, and Communication Specialist Ltd submitted bids for the armoured vehicles.
The Herald, on Wednesday, obtained a damning report on the five armoured vehicles acquired by the dismissed senior GAF officers. These vehicles have not been added to the military fleet but have instead been retained by the compulsorily retired officers as part of their retirement benefits. However, it has since emerged that six vehicles were procured under the directive of the outgoing CDS.
According to sources within the GAF, the vehicles, were delivered directly to the residences of the departing senior military chiefs and have not been seen since. The purchase was initiated under the directive of General Oppong-Peprah, before the John Mahama administration assumed office, with funds sourced from the Peace Support Operations Account.
General Oppong-Peprah, took possession of one Toyota vehicle, while the service chiefs, got the remaining four.
Initial documents, suggested that the five Toyota Land Cruiser 300 GXR (B6 Level) were ordered on January 29, 2025—22 days after the Mahama administration took office and before Dr Edward Omane Boamah’s nomination and approval as Defence Minister. However, this appears to have been an attempt to obscure the procurement process.
A Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) document dated March 18, 2025, references declaration number 41124571070 of November 12, 2024. It identifies General Thomas Oppong-Peprah, as the importer, with duty payable amounting to GHS 1,236,520.00.
The matter has sparked controversy, with many soldiers and officers urging President Mahama to direct Defence Minister Dr Omane Boamah to recover the high-security vehicles.
Beyond the fact that the CDS, under whose directive the vehicles were procured, lacked the authority to approve military acquisitions exceeding US$500,000, it has emerged that the supplier failed to meet the specified requirements, despite charging a premium price.
Akanni Logistics, based in Adabraka, Accra, supplied the GAF with outdated, lower-specification armoured vehicles at exorbitant prices. Abdul Hakeem M. Annafi, who accepted the contract on 30 January 2025, failed to deliver vehicles matching the required specifications.
For example, the contract stipulated that the vehicles should be 2024/2025 models, but 2022 models were delivered. Additionally, the armoured Toyota Land Cruisers were required to be 3.3 GXR HI Diesel models, but instead, Twin Turbo models were supplied. While 20-inch alloy wheels (265/55R/20) were specified, the delivered vehicles had 18-inch alloy wheels (265/55R18). Other missing features included Side Steps with Covers and Wireless Chargers.
A specialised military department dispatched a team to inspect the five armoured Toyota vehicles against the Procurement Order Form (DFB 1997) and the Authorisation for Works and Services (DFP 9522). Their report identified multiple discrepancies between the contract specifications and the delivered vehicles.
Consequently, it has been recommended that Akanni Logistics reconcile these issues with the GAF before processing further payments.
GAF’s procurement department, led by Colonel Alipoe, initiated the procurement of the armoured Toyota Land Cruiser 300 GXR (B6 Level), inviting bids from accredited suppliers within the Ghana Armed Forces for consideration.