Mahama Government Takes Decisive Action: Recovers Unauthorized Bulletproof Vehicles from Retired Military Chiefs

The Mahama government has successfully retrieved five bulletproof vehicles from former Chief of Defence Staff (CDS) General Thomas Oppong-Peprah and his Service Chiefs following reports of their unauthorized procurement.

The retired military officers were ordered to return the armored Toyota Land Cruiser 300 GXR vehicles after investigations revealed that the previous Akufo-Addo/Bawumia administration had not approved the acquisition. The luxury vehicles, purchased from Dubai, are currently stationed at the Defence Procurement Wing (PR&D) of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF).

Unapproved Procurement Exposed

Investigations uncovered that the vehicles, originally army green, were later resprayed black, except for a 2023 Lexus LX 600 (chassis number JTJPB7CX2P4023225), which is reportedly still in the possession of the former CDS.

Retired officers who had these vehicles in their custody included:

• General Oppong-Peprah (Former CDS)
• Vice Admiral Issah Adam Yakubu (Former Chief of Naval Staff – CNS)
• Lieutenant General Bismarck Kwasi Onwona (Former Chief of Army Staff – COAS)
• Air Marshal Frederick Asare Kwasi Bekoe (Former Chief of Air Staff – CAS)
• Lieutenant General Joseph Prince Osei Owusu (Former Chief of Staff)

The officers defended their possession of bulletproof vehicles, citing a recent attack on a Nigerian Brigadier-General as justification. However, standard military regulations only entitle them to a saloon car and a pickup truck, making the procurement irregular and unjustifiable.

Massive Overpricing and Procurement Violations

Further investigations revealed severe financial irregularities in the acquisition process. According to military records, each armored Toyota Land Cruiser 300 GXR was purchased for $285,000, despite customs records quoting an import price of $160,000—a staggering markup that raised suspicions of financial mismanagement.

A total of six vehicles were imported and cleared in the name of the Ghana Armed Forces, but only five were officially recorded as military assets. The sixth vehicle, a Lexus LX 600, had its customs duties privately paid by General Oppong-Peprah, raising serious ethical and legal concerns about its classification as his personal property.

Disputed Military Inspection and Dubious Payment Request

An apology letter dated March 21, 2025, signed by Brigadier General E.K. Commey, attempted to justify the procurement discrepancies. The letter, titled “Correction to Inspection and Monitoring Report Order for Armoured Toyota Land Cruiser 300 GXR for the Ghana Armed Forces”, raised even more concerns over the legitimacy of the transaction.

In the letter, Brigadier General Commey admitted that an incorrect Procurement Order Form was used and recommended that the supplier, RAMELSCO COMPANY LTD, be paid $1.3 million for the five vehicles supplied. However, Brigadier General Commey was not part of the original military inspection team, making his involvement highly suspicious.

Calls for Transparency and Further Investigations

The entire procurement process has sparked nationwide outrage, with critics demanding full accountability from all individuals involved. The lack of transparency, the unauthorized retention of military assets, and the severe overpricing have intensified calls for an independent investigation and possible legal action.

The Mahama administration has reaffirmed its commitment to protecting public resources and ensuring strict adherence to procurement laws. As public scrutiny increases, the focus now shifts to whether sanctions will be imposed on those responsible for this controversial procurement scandal.