The government says practical negotiations have saved the country more than $3 million on cars ordered for the presidency by the previous regime.

The renegotiation decreased the price of the cars down to $6 million from $9 million. The government could not refuse the vehicles because of an existing contract between the former regime and the supplier. The negotiation saved Ghana from legal battles. Upon confirmation of the arrival of the specific cars from Dubai, trustworthy bases in the government told The Finder that the vehicles for the presidency had been lowered from the 43 ordered by the previous regime to down to 34.

However, the numbers that have arrived in Ghana and when the remaining ones will be flown into the country will not be disclosed. President John Mahama’s regime ordered the supply of 43 specialized cars worth more the $9 million just eight days before handing over power to the current government.

The document the approved the use of the car by the President, Vice-President, First Lady and others was signed by Alhaji Salifu Osman, former Deputy National Security Co-ordinator. The vehicles can fire series of bullets and are designed to tolerate the effects of a hand grenade. The offices of the President and Vice-President were allocated five full option B6 bulletproof plated four-seater exclusive Mercedes Benz (S600) with radio and video communication.

Specifications of the vehicles

The specifications of the vehicles ordered by the previous government included eight off-road vehicles to be allocated to the offices of the President and Vice-President, in addition to another eight off-road bulletproof vehicles. According to the list for sharing out, two off-road rapid intervention cars and two off-road ambulances were ordered for the offices of the President and Vice-President. Two pick-up trucks with radio and communication as lead car for the President and his Vice were also ordered.

For the office of First and Second ladies

For the office of the First and Second ladies, several lead cars were ordered. These are; two full option B6 bulletproof BMW 730LI with radio and video communication, two full option B6 off-road vehicles with radio and video communication, six BMW 530 vehicles with radio and video communication, four Light body cross-country vehicles with radio and video communication (for bodyguard and media), as well two pick-up trucks with radio and video communication.