The Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) has dissociated itself from a supposed soldier who was arrested as part of a car snatching syndicate in the Northern Region.
Following the arrest of Mohammed Mustapha, 23, who was in military uniform along with four others on Sunday arrested on the Yapei-Kintampo in connection with a highway robbery, GAF has released a statement claiming the suspect is not a soldier.
“We wish to state categorically that the suspect is not a soldier of the Ghana Armed Forces. The Armed Forces is worried about the rising spate of impersonation by civilians, either wearing military uniforms or posting fake pictures of themselves as military officers to defraud unsuspecting Ghanaians,” the GAF statement read.
“The unauthorized sale of military uniforms and military pattern gadgets by some vendors contributes to this state of affairs and is inimical to national security.”
However, Mustapha is part of the military music band with his pictures splashed all over. It is unclear why the GAF will only now be disowning him just when he was arrested for criminal activities.
Mustapha was arrested together with Ibrahim Issah, 27; Vivor Christopher 27, a phone repairer; Benyamin Ajyei, 23, mobile money vendor; and Seyram Addo, 29, a plumber. They were all noted for being a notorious gang of car-snatchers.
A Police situational report says they snatched a Toyota Camry and other items from one Adam Abdul-Gafaru at gunpoint in Tamale.
The suspects were traced towards Buipe by a tracking machine in a vehicle they had snatched according to the Police report.
The GAF has said that it is available to assist with investigations
“The Ghana Armed Forces is ready to cooperate with the Police to unravel the source of the military uniform in this particular incident and to stop the unauthorized sale of military uniforms across the country,2 the GAF claimed.
“Ghanaians should be confident to provide information to the security agencies in order to nib this trend in the bud,” the statement added.
GAF has also urged the general public to be circumspect in dealing with persons who pose as military personnel.