The specialised vehicles ordered by former President John Dramani Mahama before exiting office, and meant to be used by the incoming New Patriotic Party (NPP) administration are ready in Dubai.
The new cars were to beef up the presidential fleet and were ordered a few days to the handing over of power to President Akufo-Addo.
Per the contractual terms, the vehicles were to be delivered within 60 days after which payment would be made.
However, the delivery of the vehicles had run into difficulties because of some unresolved issues, including the indefinite moratorium placed on the acquisition of new vehicles by the Akufo-Addo regime.
But with the valid contract between the importing company – Amalgamated Security Services Limited and the State – Ghana government may be slapped with huge judgement debt if it goes ahead to abrogate the contract entered into on January 3, 2017.
The $9m worth of contract for the procurement of 55 vehicles for the presidency was signed on behalf of the previous government by Alhaji Salifu Osman, a Deputy National Security Coordinator.
The presidential fleet covers the president, vice president, the first and the second ladies, the presidential press corps and medical team.
The vehicles are mostly bullet-proof Mercedes Benz (S600) meant for the security of the president, his vice and their wives, cross-country vehicles for long distant treks and escorts, two cross-country rapid intervention vehicle, two cross-country ambulance and a pickup truck with radio and communication as lead cars.
A larger number of the vehicles was to be allocated to the office of the president and the vice president while the remaining were to go to the office of the first and the second ladies as well as the security detail at the presidency.
Even though everybody is maintaining silence on the deal, a senior member of the previous NDC administration confirmed to DAILY GUIDE that the Mahama regime indeed placed the order to re-stock the depleting presidential fleet for the incoming regime in order to make room for the smooth running of the new administration.
The source was not ready to give details, saying that it is a security issue and so the National Security was handling the transaction.
Currently, the president uses a 10-year-old BMW which occasionally breaks down with high servicing cost.
And when the vehicles go for servicing, he uses his private ones – a situation which is detrimental to his personal security.
Recently, while returning from an official engagement at Peduase Lodge, near Aburi in the Eastern Region, DAILY GUIDE learnt the BMW nearly broke down, compelling the driver to reduce the speed limit. It was later detected that the ball joint was on the verge of dislocating.
The dearth of vehicles is also affecting other departments at the presidency.
The office of the first lady, according to DAILY GUIDE sources, oftentimes has to rely on National Security for vehicles to prosecute her charity project outside Accra. It did happen during the recent event in Kumasi relating to fundraising of about GH¢9 million for the building of an emergency Maternity Block for the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital to reduce maternal and infant deaths.
As it is, the hands of the new administration are tied as the new vehicles are still in Dubai ready for air-lifting to Ghana upon clearance.
The delay is accruing rent charges and the agent is not ready to accommodate the cost any longer, DAILY GUIDE has gathered.
The vehicles are customized for Ghana and cannot be used by any other country.
They have adequate security features as they are designed to withstand the effects of a hand grenade as well as other possible attacks.
They are fitted with radio, video communication and other warning devices for the use of the presidency.
According to DAILY GUIDE checks, four companies were invited to submit bids before Amalgamated Security Services Ltd. was selected, looking at its track record in terms of delivering superior technology and after sales service.
Source: Daily Guide
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THAT IS THE BIGGEST TH11EEFF OF THE DECADE. HE SCRAMBLES MONEY LIKE BOLE CATTLE SH1TT. SOOOO GRREEEDDDYYY AND SELFISHHHHH. NEVER SEEN AN EV111LLL MAN LIKE THIS MAN!
You elect anybody at all as MP & they are there to get rich in 4 years. Best description rubber stamp MPS. Ghana abr3gu k3k3. 6 March has outlived its usefulness. Wasting manly hours in 100 degrees temperature on poor innocent school children whereas greedy mps & politicans waste scare resources of the land.
how on earth can a true patriotic leader do this his dear nation. only those with ill motive
It's simple , let us order new cars so we can take some of the existing ones hence the missing cars
Let the so-called Alhaji answer who ordered him to act. Stop the politics and punish CORRUPT men/women.
John Mahama the most ***barred word*** president Ghana had ever had.Tweeaaaaa Gyemieee paaaa nie.He used the presidency to stack wealth for himself and spend tax payers monies on Big ***barred word*** and phat pu**y....***barred word*** president like that.If mills was not killed who would have voted Mahama for president....No Akan would have done than...See how angry and disturb J J Rawlings felt and still feeling about Mahama`s rule in past few years....How I wish he is thrown into Jail for his corrupt practices and deals
Hahaaaaa NDC half baked communicators never ceases to amuse me. Your god JM was 7 days about to quit office after miserably losing the election. Note he was aware he miserably lost the election. The cars were not ordered before he miserably lost the election but after he miserably lost the election. Can't the incoming government determine what they wanted? NDC and JM did this shameful act to line their pockets. Stealers. All these will be left behind when they leave this earth. Greedy NDC ***barred word***-!!!
...so just before leaving power was Ex. Mahama not using lots of v8s. Whera are those cars?
Go ahead and abrogate the contract if you feel so. We are tired with the dishonest publications. If their hands are tied, they should untie and pay and take delivery. Always Mahama, Mahama. We it came for you to inherit the projects he began you were quiet and appropriated them as though you started. Apuuuu
MAHAMA PRESIDENTIAL CAR READY AND SO WHAT? GIVE US A BRAKE