The Herald’s investigation into irregularities surrounding the procurement of certain armoured vehicles, has revealed that the management of Akanni Logistics, may face serious consequences for bringing an armoured Lexus LX 600 2023 into the country as part of a fleet of six armoured cars and diverting it to the outgoing Chief of Defence Staff (CDS), General Thomas Oppong-Peprah, to be registered as his private property.

The Ministry of the Interior enforces strict regulations on the importation of armoured cars. Written approval is required before such vehicles are permitted entry into the country. However, both the company and the CDS, circumvented these regulations by using the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) as a cover to bring the Lexus into the country.

Interestingly, critical state institutions require permission from the Interior Ministry to operate armoured-plated vehicles.

 Banks must obtain authorisation to use them as bullion vans, while the Office of the Special Prosecutor (OSP) had to request permission for Kissi Agyabeng to drive an armoured-plated vehicle.

Akanni Logistics, which was handpicked by the GAF to supply five armoured Toyota Land Cruiser 300 GXR (B6 Level) vehicles, also included an armoured Lexus LX 600 2023 Model Black with chassis number JTJPB7CX2P4023225.

This Lexus was later diverted to the CDS, who, on Wednesday, March 19, 2025, sought to regularise his ownership by paying duty on the prohibited vehicle through a letter to the Customs office in Tema.

The Lexus was cleared alongside the five armoured Toyota Land Cruisers, which were acquired for 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.

Documents available to The Herald, indicate that last week, a company called Eyerams Cargo Services facilitated the processing of duty for the Lexus on behalf of the CDS, despite the vehicle having been imported and cleared from Tema Port in the name of the GAF. Interestingly, the car had been in General Oppong-Peprah’s possession since last year.

The Herald has learned that, Brigadier General Ziblim Bawah Ayorrogo, Commissioner of the Ghana Revenue Authority (GRA) Customs Division, facilitated the processing of duty for the CDS, thereby condoning the illegality of flouting the Ministry of Interior’s regulations on armoured vehicle importation. The vehicle, had previously been cleared under the GAF’s name.

The Herald obtained the chassis numbers of these vehicles from the Tema Customs database: JTMAACBJIOP4036055, JTMAACBJOP4036346, JTMAACBJ1P4034685, JTMAACBJ2P4035439, and JTMAACBJ3P4034168.

Upon arrival, the five black Toyota armoured vehicles were driven to the residences of the outgoing military chiefs. There are claims that these officers intend to retain them as part of their retirement benefits, despite The Herald’s findings that they are only entitled to pick-up vehicles as part of their retirement package.

Multiple documents examined by The Herald revealed 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.

Strangely, military records did not capture the actual date of arrival. A letter dated January 29, 2025, stated that the contract with Akanni Logistics, was awarded on that same date, and the company accepted the offer the following day, January 30, 2025.

Intriguingly, some documents confirm that, although the vehicles arrived in Ghana late last year and were cleared in the name of the GAF, senior officers in the procurement department processed documents to legitimise the transaction, creating the impression of compliance with due process.

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 per Toyota armoured vehicle, making a profit of US$125,000 per unit.

Additionally, The Herald’s investigation, revealed 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 warranted contract termination, yet the vehicles were still delivered to the CDS and service chiefs’ residences.

Akanni Logistics ignored contract 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 initially 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 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.

On Wednesday, The Herald 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, using funds from the Peace Support Operations Account.

General Oppong-Peprah, took possession of one Toyota vehicle, while the service chiefs received 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 GH¢ 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 January 30, 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.

Specified 20-inch alloy wheels (265/55R/20) were replaced with 18-inch alloy wheels (265/55R18).

Other missing features, included Side Steps with Covers and Wireless Chargers.

A specialised military department inspected the five armoured Toyota vehicles and found multiple discrepancies between contract specifications and the delivered vehicles.

 Consequently, it has been recommended that Akanni Logistics address these issues with the GAF, before further payments are processed.

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