A startling report has unveiled a major corruption scandal involving the sale of government-owned vehicles and excavators at the Jubilee House, Ghana’s highest office.
According to the report by GhanaNews, 18 excavators and 16 Toyota Land Cruisers were sold by staff at the Jubilee House for a total of GH¢68 million to a Chinese national, Zhang Feng.
The shockingly low prices at which these state assets were sold have drawn widespread condemnation, with the scandal being labeled as “donkomi,” a local term for selling items at bargain-basement prices.
At the center of the controversy is Dominic Oppong Adjei, the Director of Transport and Logistics at the Jubilee House. He is accused of orchestrating the sale of these vehicles, which were allegedly sold at just GH¢2 million per vehicle—a price that has raised serious questions about the integrity of the process. The vehicles, including several models of high-end Toyota Land Cruisers, were sold under the provisions of Section 1348(6) of the Customs (Control and Management) Act, Cap. 15.05, which governs the disposal of goods.
The report reveals that the transactions were conducted with the approval of the Comptroller of Customs and the Ghana Jubilee House, using bid forms as a legal cover. However, the drastically reduced prices have sparked outrage, with critics questioning whether the sales were conducted in the state’s best interest or if they were part of a larger corrupt scheme.
The vehicles involved in the sale have been identified with specific chassis numbers recorded in official documents, including:
- Toyota Land Cruiser with Chassis No. JTEF411F970037690
- Toyota Land Cruiser with Chassis No. JTEBE11F300976708
- Toyota Land Cruiser with Chassis No. JTMAABBEAN4004323
- Land Cruiser Diesel with Chassis No. GR4879-23
- Land Cruiser V8 with Chassis No. JTMNY051J5114049809
- Land Cruiser V8 with Chassis No. JTLBV9F596X241834
- Land Cruiser – GB1927924
- Land Cruiser V8 Diesel with Chassis No. JTEBH3FJ605038700
These transactions were reportedly signed and witnessed by Yakubu Mohammed and Clement Wilkinson, implicating them in the scandal as well. The involvement of these officials has led to increased scrutiny of the sale process and the broader management of government assets within the Jubilee House.
Intermediaries and Cover-ups
The report also highlights the use of intermediaries in the transactions, with several Ghanaian nationals, including some Municipal Chief Executives (MCEs), allegedly serving as fronts to conceal the involvement of the Chinese buyer. This use of intermediaries suggests a deliberate attempt to obscure the true nature of the sales and has further deepened the controversy surrounding the scandal.
The revelations have sparked a public outcry, with civil society groups and anti-corruption advocates demanding immediate action. They are calling for a thorough investigation into the matter and the suspension of all individuals involved, including Dominic Oppong Adjei, Yakubu Mohammed, and Clement Wilkinson. There are also calls for a comprehensive review of the procedures for disposing of government assets to prevent similar scandals in the future.
There has been no official response from the government or the Jubilee House.