Castle operatives have once more taken hold of one of Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo’s vehicles, a Toyota Land Cruiser V8 with registration number GN 8104 Y, on the orders of a certain DSP Amenu of the National Security apparatus.
The vehicle was towed away yesterday from a mechanic’s workshop at La in Accra where it had been sent for its brake system to be serviced, at about 11:30am. It is the second time President Atta Mills’ boys would pounce on Nana Addo’s cars, after a similar ugly incident two months ago.
All efforts to stop the four macho-looking security men from taking the car away proved futile as they insisted on carrying out the orders of their superiors.
The vehicle is part of the 2008 New Patriotic Party (NPP) flagbearer’s fleet and at the time the Castle boys demanded to tow it away, they were told documents about its ownership were available but these were ignored.
Details of the vehicle show that it was manufactured in 2004 and imported into Ghana in 2007 at the cost of GH¢10,270.50. It was cleared on 15th August 2007.
Available documents suggest that the vehicle was registered and transferred to Nana Akufo Addo’s name on November 20, 2007.
The available documents, having been submitted to the National Security headquarters, appeared not to convince the authorities to release the vehicle.
A certain Herbert Krampa, an aide to Nana Akufo-Addo, was amazed at the turn of events because according to him, there was nothing to show that the vehicle belonged to the Castle.
“I have all the authentic documents covering the vehicle, insurance papers, etc. It was shipped down on August 9, 2007 and received on the 16th from the shipping agent and it is a private vehicle used by Nana Akufo Addoâ€Â.
Last Monday, the Castle dispatched a letter to former President John Agyekum Kufuor, seeking the last of three Ford Expedition vehicles in his possession, thereby stripping him of all state vehicles. None has been replaced.
It will be recalled that Castle operatives seized an open-top Land Cruiser used by Nana during the campaign season last year even after the driver had tried to convince the car-snatching team that the accompanying documents were available.
The vehicle was seized at Opera Square in the central business district of Accra where the driver had parked so he could buy some groceries.
The vehicle was taken to the Castle only to be released afterwards with copious apologies from the authorities at the Castle and a pledge not to repeat the act.
That vehicle had been abandoned by Nana Addo for obvious reasons.
The NPP flagbearer in the last elections returned recently from a foreign trip and is yet to speak about political developments in the country since a lot of water has passed under the bridge during his absence.
When media representatives sought his views, he said he could not talk at the time since he had to be briefed by the party machinery.
With this latest development, it is beginning to appear that he might break his silence.
The seizure is coming a day after ex-President Rawlings descended heavily on President Mills, describing his administration as being sluggish and mediocre.
By A.R. Gomda