…..Mahama Gov’t kept in darkness by outgoing CDS General Oppong-Peprah
The Herald, has obtained a damning report concerning five armoured vehicles purchased by the dismissed senior officers of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF).
These specialised vehicles, have not been added to the military fleet and have been hijacked by the compulsorily retired senior officers, as part of their retirement benefits.
According to documents seen by The Herald, the state-of-the-art vehicles, Armoured Toyota Land Cruisers 300 GXR (B6 Level), cost One Million Four Hundred and Twenty-Five Thousand United States dollars (US$1,425,000), with each unit priced at Two Hundred and Eighty-Five Thousand United States dollars (US$285,000).
According to The Herald’s insiders, the vehicles were immediately delivered to the residences of the departing senior military chiefs and have not been seen since.
Indeed, the purchase was made on the orders of the outgoing Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Thomas Oppong Peprah, without the knowledge of the John Mahama government, with the substantial sum taken from the Peace Support Operations Account.
General Thomas Oppong Peprah, is reportedly keeping one, and the rest are with other 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; and the Chief of Air Staff (CAS), Air Marshal Frederick Asare Kwasi Bekoe.
Documents available to The Herald indicate that, the five Armoured 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.
The issue has sparked controversy, with many soldiers and officers, urging President Mahama to immediately instruct his Defence Minister, Dr Edward 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, did not meet the specifications for the five vehicles, yet Ghana’s military paid a premium price.
The supplier, Messrs Akanni Logistics, located in Adabraka, Accra, provided the military with older armoured vehicles of lower specifications while charging premium rates.
Abdul Hakeem M. Annafi, accepted the contract to supply the vehicles on January 30, 2025, but provided those that did not meet the specifications.
For instance, the vehicles were supposed to be manufactured in 2024/2025, but Messrs Akanni Logistics delivered vehicles manufactured in 2022.
Furthermore, the armoured Toyota Land Cruisers, were specified to be 3.3 GXR HI Diesel models, but what was delivered were Twin Turbo models, which do not correspond with the GXR specifications. While 20-inch alloy wheels (265/55R/20) were paid for, the vehicles supplied had 18-inch alloy wheels (265/55R18).
The armoured vehicles, were also supposed to include a Side Step with a Cover, but those supplied had Side Steps without Covers.
Additionally, while the specifications included a Wireless Charger, the vehicles delivered did not have this feature.
A specialised military department sent a team of inspectors to examine the five armoured Toyota vehicles against the Procurement Order Form (DFB 1997) and the Authorisation for Works and Services (DFP 9522). The inspection team observed several discrepancies between the procurement specifications and the vehicles delivered.
In light of these discrepancies, it has been recommended that the supplier reconcile with the Ghana Armed Forces regarding the identified issues before any further payments are processed for the vehicles supplied.
GAF’s procurement department, headed by Colonel Alipoe, initiated the procurement of the Armoured Toyota Land Cruiser 300 GXR (B6 Level).
It invited bids from various Ghana Armed Forces-accredited suppliers for consideration.
Three suppliers—Messrs Akanni Logistics, Messrs Ramelsco Company Ltd, and Messrs Communication Specialist Ltd—submitted bids for the armoured vehicles.
Based on price competitiveness, Messrs Ramelsco Company Ltd, won the bid and was recommended to supply the vehicles for One Million Three Hundred Thousand United States dollars (US$1,300,000), but Messrs Akanni Logistics, supplied the cars at One Million Four Hundred and Twenty-Five Thousand United States dollars (US$1,425,000), with each unit priced at Two Hundred and Eighty-Five Thousand United States dollars (US$285,000).