Category Archives: 2. Procurement: Finding the Defender

First, I have to find a vehicle. A large part of the inspiration for the project came from two colleagues at the Canadian High Commission who had themselves each purchased and restored older Land Rover Defenders in Ghana. Over my 30 year development career I have probably spent months in Toyota Land Cruisers, Prados, Mitsubishis, and various Nissans, but rarely a Land Rover. The only occasion I can recall was riding through the remote and beautiful Rupunni savannah region of southern Guyana 20 years ago in the box of an old Series pick-up, a ride made more interesting by the fact that I and a chain smoking colleague shared the space with a 20 gallon drum of diesel fuel.
For reasons I will explain in this section of the blog I decided to limit my search to a 15 year-old Land Rover Defender. I also decided early on that I did not want a vehicle someone else had recovered and restored, I wanted to see the vehicle in its original condition and manage the restoration myself. Only that way will I be able to customize it to our needs and standards and really get to know the vehicle and how it works. The whole process should also provide an opportunity to gain exposure to aspects of Ghanaian culture and society that my position at the Canadian High Commission does not afford. This blog will share both the restoration experience as well as the insights gained.