Buipe Car Snatching Man In Military Uniform Confirmed As Military Bandsman

The suspect who was identified as a soldier after he was busted alongside a car snatching is indeed a functionary of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF), contrary to a denial by the military.

Lance Corporal Yussif Mustapha, per uniforms that he has been seen in, is said to be a member of the GAF band, according to a write-up by a man believed to be a soldier on social media.

This is contrary to a statement signed by Acting Director, Public Relations, Commander Andy La-Anyane on Monday, where he stated: “…One of the suspects is seen wearing military camouflage uniform and has been described variously as a soldier of the Ghana Armed Forces. We wish to state categorically that the suspect is not a soldier of the Ghana Armed Forces.”

However, according to sources within the GAF the uniform that the suspect was seen wearing when the syndicate was busted was the lanyard of the General Headquarters (GHQ).

Then, in other photographs on social media, he is seen with the military band in the 6th Battalion of Infantry Unit lanyard.

Consequently, other information is that he could be either a soldier in the band or a civilian musical instrument player according to a write-up by another soldier who points out that on ceremonial programmes such civilians are co-opted into the ceremonial band.

According to the writer, for the purposes of uniformity, these civilians are dressed to synchronise with the main military ceremonial band with the uniforms only taken away after the program.

“The video and the picture should prove one thing at least. In the video, he was in GHQ lanyard and in the picture he was in the 6th Bn lanyard. This is a citizen and a civilian who abused the honour granted him as a civilian to be part of a ceremonial national parade,” the writer added.

He laments that such developments can work against the military/civilian relationship.

“The preliminary problem is that we have allowed people to sell such military accoutrements recklessly on the streets and such offences are treated as misdemeanour which does not instill enough deterrence….”