The vehicles, a 2016 Lexus RX 350 and a 2018 Toyota Tacoma, were identified as stolen from Canada in 2019 and 2022, respectively.

This discovery was made when the team entered the Republic of the Congo.

The flagged vehicles have been handed over to authorities in the Republic of the Congo, with law enforcement agencies in Canada and Ghana also notified.

The team’s remaining vehicle, a Ford F150 Raptor, has been shipped back to Ghana.

Wanderlust Ghana stated that the flagged vehicles were purchased in Accra after conducting due diligence, including Carfax verifications, which showed clean results at the time of purchase.

The organization has pledged full cooperation with ongoing investigations and plans to pursue legal action against the sellers of the vehicles.

It also highlighted the broader issue of stolen vehicles from North America entering Ghana’s market and announced plans to collaborate with U.S. and Canadian diplomatic missions to raise public awareness and address the influx of stolen vehicles.

Despite the setback, Wanderlust Ghana celebrated the achievements of the expedition, which covered 28,811 kilometers across 28 countries in Africa, Europe, and the Middle East, promoting Ghana’s tourism potential.

The club is acquiring new vehicles to complete the journey and plans to undertake more expeditions in the future.

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The unfortunate incident happened on Thursday, 26 September, on day 13, in Krefeld, Germany.

The CEO of Wanderlust Group, Kwabena Peprah announced this in a post on Facebook, stating a window of the car was smashed.

Mr Peprah revealed that the burglars had taken away valuable items, including his wallet and a team member, Kwame’s passport.

The team have since reported the incident to the German police.

“I was dressing up when Saka knocked on my door that the receptionist had called him. The Tacoma has been burgled. Someone smashed the front window and took lots of stuff, including my wallet and possibly Kwame’s passport.”

”We are not allowed to touch the car before the police have had their turn and so at the moment, I’m sitting in a German police station waiting to file a report and go through the processes,” he wrote.

He bemoaned the incident could the end of the trip for Kwame as it will not be easy to get visas needed to ensure continuity.

”If Kwame’s passport was in the car, I’m sure we can get a new one issued at the embassy in Berlin but the trip may be over for him because the other visas needed along the route will not be easy to reissue,” Mr Peprah said.

The adventurous 30,000-kilometre expedition will span three continents over 30 countries.

Their route will take them from Accra to Paris, through Dubai, and finally to Cape Town, starting on September 30th and lasting three months.

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• Wanderlust Ghana embarks on 30,000 km road adventure from Accra to Paris, Dubai and…

• Wanderlust Ghana set to embark 30,000 km road adventure

The adventurous group is preparing to embark on a 30,000-kilometre expedition, spanning three continents and 30 countries.

Their route will take them from Accra to Paris, through Dubai, and finally to Cape Town, starting on September 30th and lasting three months.

At a vibrant send-off ceremony at the Kwame Nkrumah Memorial Park, the energy was palpable. Kwabena Peprah, CEO of Wanderlust Ghana, stood before an enthusiastic crowd, expressing the team’s broader mission beyond the thrill of the journey.

“This trip isn’t just about seeing the world… it’s about putting Ghana on the global tourism map,” Peprah stated in an interview with JoyNews. “We want to showcase Ghana’s rich culture and potential as a top destination.”

Despite the excitement, Peprah was realistic about the obstacles that lie ahead, particularly the mechanical challenges that could slow them down.

“We know the road won’t always be smooth, but that’s part of the adventure,” he said with a grin. “We’re prepared to handle whatever comes our way.”

The Ghana Tourism Authority (GTA) and the Ministry of Tourism are key partners in this venture, recognizing the potential impact of the journey on Ghana’s tourism profile. Akwasi Agyeman, CEO of the GTA, highlighted the significance of this venture during the event.

“Their journey will generate significant exposure for Ghana, with media coverage at every stop they make,” Agyeman noted. “It’s a unique opportunity to showcase Ghana’s vibrancy to the world.”

The road trip will see the team traverse a variety of terrains, from the arid landscapes of Mauritania to the modern urban sprawl of Dubai, and down to the southernmost point of Africa in Cape Town.

The adventure will take them through countries like Côte d’Ivoire, Morocco, Spain, France, Turkey, Kenya, and many others.

Wanderlust Ghana is not just embarking on another trip, they are taking the spirit of Ghana with them, showing the world that this small West African nation has much to offer in terms of adventure, culture, and hospitality.

The team, which previously traversed two continents and twelve countries in a remarkable 16-day journey, is now setting its sights on an even greater challenge: a 30,000-kilometre road trip that will take them from Accra to Paris, then on to Dubai, and finally to Cape Town.

In an exclusive interview with Adomonline’s Dennis Kofi Adu, a key member of the Wanderlust Ghana team, provided insights into the upcoming journey.

While the exact departure date remains undisclosed for security reasons, he said the trip is set to begin this month.

In a bid to promote tourism in Ghana, Wanderlust Ghana has partnered with the Ghana Tourism Authority for this journey.

The collaboration aims to highlight Ghana’s potential as a vibrant tourist destination, with visitghana.com tags prominently featured on the team’s promotional materials.

This partnership underscores the importance of showcasing Ghana’s rich culture, heritage, and natural beauty to the world.

Unlike their previous expedition, which featured eleven men and one woman, this time only six members of their private club will be participating, with just three cars making the journey.

Additionally, the key member emphasized that the Wanderlust Ghana club remains a private entity, consisting of close friends who support each other financially, making it difficult to allow the public to join their road trips.

However, he hinted at the possibility of organizing a public trip within Ghana or across the sub-region in the future.

The upcoming trip is not without its challenges.

The key member highlighted the significant costs involved, particularly when it comes to tolls on highways abroad, logistics, accommodation, and food.

“It’s expensive, not cheap,” he noted, especially in countries like Italy where tolls are required for highway use.      

For those eager to follow the journey, Wanderlust Ghana has a live link on Pebble, allowing followers to witness their adventure in real time.

Additionally, it was revealed that the Ghana Tourism Authority, as a partner for this trip, has visitghana.com tags featured on their promotional materials.

As the team prepares to set off on this thrilling new adventure, the world watches in anticipation, eager to see how Wanderlust Ghana will once again challenge the status quo and inspire others to explore the world through the lens of overland travel.

Source: Dennis Kofi Adu | dennis.adu@myjoynline.com

Franklin Peters, the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of InkIt Ghana Limited, a prominent signage and digital printing company based in New Town, Accra, took up the challenge alongside his son, Quincy.

Their vehicle of choice for this daring endeavour was a Lexus RX350, which notably stood out as the most unconventional choice among the participating cars.

The fleet also included two Land Cruisers, a Ford Raptor, and the formidable Mercedes G63, affectionately known as the G-Wagon.

The decision for Quincy to join his father’s journey was largely motivated by the fact that Franklin Peters intended to drive alone.

Throughout the expedition, Quincy also held the role of a co-driver, taking over the steering when necessary.

However, their expedition wasn’t without its challenges. While approaching Bamako, Mali, the brake pads of their Lexus began to overheat, causing a loss of effectiveness.

This situation extended to the other team members’ cars, except for the robust G-Wagon.

In a live update, the team shared that the Ghanaian Mission in Bamako kindly provided an escort and assisted in arranging accommodations and meals, offering them a sense of comfort and familiarity.

“Our proximity to the town allowed us to proceed cautiously while our escort coordinated a meeting with a mechanic at the Consulate,” shared team member Kwabena Peprah.

Fortunately, spare brake pads were readily available for everyone, easing their predicament.

As the journey progressed, Frank faced challenges of his own. In his effort to maintain pace and avoid obstacles, he found himself needing to drive aggressively.

Eventually, he opted to join his fellow adventurers in exploring the off-road terrain they had encountered.

Mr Peprah elaborated further on Frank’s experience, highlighting how the absence of skid plates on the Lexus RX350 caused minor damage to the vehicle’s undercarriage.

This incident resulted in a dent at the oil intake point, leading to complications with the oil pump and a subsequent disablement of the all-wheel drive system.

With determination, the team navigated their way to Kayes, where they sought assistance from a mechanic before nightfall. Here, the mechanic was guided through the necessary repairs, which included addressing the oil intake and replacing the brakes.

Additionally, Franklin Peters has garnered praise for undertaking such a memorable journey alongside his son, navigating the inherent risks of the extensive expedition.

Social media has been inundated with commendations for the accomplishment, especially after the team’s triumphant arrival in London on August 6, 2023, following the arduous adventure.

The 16-day journey, undertaken to raise funds against digital poverty in rural areas of Ghana, saw nine of the participants ultimately reaching the UK region.

Meanwhile, visa-related issues concerning the G-Wagon’s driver were confirmed by Quincy in a brief interview.

Nonetheless, this remarkable gesture has ignited discussions about the importance of embarking on adventures that foster stronger bonds between fathers and their sons.

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