VIDEO: Wanderlust Ghana suspends expedition after stolen vehicles discovered

Wanderlust Ghana Expedition Club has suspended its ambitious 30,000-kilometre Cross-Country Overland Expedition following revelations that two of its vehicles were reported stolen in Canada. 

This is coming after covering over 27,000 kilometres of the targetted 30,000.

The vehicles, a 2016 Lexus RX 350 and a 2018 Toyota Tacoma, were flagged during the team’s entry into the Republic of the Congo, prompting their seizure by security officials.

The incident came to light during routine checks, where it was discovered that the vehicles had been reported stolen in Canada in 2019 and 2022. 

The vehicles have since been handed over to authorities in the Republic of the Congo for further investigation. Law enforcement agencies in Ghana and Canada have also been notified.  

Thorough due diligence conducted

Wanderlust Ghana emphasised in a statement that the vehicles were purchased in Accra after thorough background checks, including paid Carfax verifications, which indicated clean records at the time of purchase. The group expressed its commitment to cooperating fully with the ongoing investigations and announced plans to pursue civil action against the vehicle sellers.  

Highlighting a broader issue

This unfortunate incident has brought attention to the wider problem of stolen vehicles from North America being sold on Ghana’s open market to unsuspecting buyers. To address this issue, Wanderlust Ghana plans to collaborate with U.S. and Canadian diplomatic missions in Ghana to launch a public education campaign aimed at minimising the risk of purchasing stolen vehicles.  

Reflecting on the journey

Despite the setback, Wanderlust Ghana reflected positively on its progress during the expedition, which had covered 28,811 kilometres across 28 countries in Africa, Europe, and the Middle East. The team described the journey as a testament to Ghana’s rich tourism potential and expressed gratitude to partners, Ghanaian diplomatic missions, and diaspora communities for their support.  

“The journey still remains the destination,” the group stated, affirming their commitment to future expeditions and their plans to acquire a new fleet of vehicles for such projects.  

Looking ahead

While the third vehicle in the expedition, a Ford F150 Raptor, has been shipped back to Ghana from Pointe-Noire, Congo, 

Wanderlust Ghana is already working to resume its journey with new vehicles. The group remains optimistic about undertaking more exciting expeditions in the future.

Watch the video below;

Read the entire Wanderlust statement below;

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE:
28th November 2024

WANDERLUST GHANA SUSPENDS 30,000km CROSS-COUNTRY OVERLAND EXPEDITION 

Wanderlust Ghana Expedition Club regretfully announces the suspension of its 30,000-kilometer Cross-Country Overland Expedition after it came to the group’s attention, whilst entering the Republic of The Congo, that two of the vehicles involved in the expedition, a 2016 Lexus RX 350 and a 2018 Toyota Tacoma, had been reported stolen in Canada in 2019 and 2022 respectively.

The two vehicles have been handed over to security officials in the Republic of The Congo as part of ongoing investigations, whilst law enforcement agencies in Canada and Ghana have been duly notified. The remaining vehicle, A Ford F150 Raptor, has been shipped to Ghana from Pointe-Noir, Congo.

It is worth noting that the two vehicles were purchased by the participating team members from car dealers in Accra, Ghana, after conducting thorough due diligence to the best of our abilities, including paid Carfax verifications, which all returned clean results at the time of purchase.

Wanderlust Ghana is committed to fully cooperating with the ongoing investigative processes, as it is our firm belief that all individuals or entities found culpable must be brought to book. In addition, our legal team has been instructed to initiate civil actions in our law courts against the sellers of the vehicles.

This unfortunate situation has brought to light the significant issue of stolen vehicles from North America being sold in Ghana’s open market to unsuspecting buyers.

To address this, Wanderlust Ghana plans to collaborate with the diplomatic missions of the United States of America and Canada in Ghana to launch a campaign aimed at curbing the influx of stolen vehicles into the country. Additionally, the initiative will focus on educating the public on ways to minimise the risk of purchasing stolen vehicles shipped to Ghana.

Meanwhile, we recall with glee the wonderful memories that have been formed over the past two months as we progressed on this breath-taking expedition, which has seen the team cover 28,811 kilometres, passing through twenty-eight (28) countries, spanning Africa, Europe and the Middle East, whilst selling Ghana’s tourism potential in the process.

Wanderlust Ghana extends heartfelt gratitude to all its partners and the public, whose exceptional support has been instrumental in the execution of the expedition. We also wish to express our appreciation for the warm reception and assistance provided to the team by Ghanaian diplomatic missions, consulates, and diaspora communities encountered along the route.

The team is currently working on acquiring a new set of vehicles to complete this expedition and same to be used in future expeditions. We look forward to undertaking a lot more exciting expeditions soon.

“THE JOURNEY STILL REMAINS THE DESTINATION”.