Military Men playing Bagboy Roles for Gov’t Officials, a dent on GAF image -Minority

The Minority in Parliament has described as a shame and loss of dignity’’ on the side of the Ghana Armed Forces for allowing soldiers to follow government officials around and carrying their bags as “bagboys”.

They maintained that the constitutional duty of the military was to ensure peace in the country, whilst the police have the responsibility to ensure law and order. 

Haruna Iddrisu, a Minority leader addressing the media stated that it had become a worry to see men and women in uniform, particularly of the Ghana Armed Forces, holding bags belonging to key public officials including MMDCEs.

The Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) is the unified armed force of Ghana, consisting of the Army (GA), Navy (GN), and Ghana Air Force.

The Commander-in-Chief of the Ghana Armed Forces is the President of Ghana, who is also the supreme military commander of the Border Guard Unit (BGU). The Armed Forces are managed by the Minister of Defence and the Chief of Defence Staff.

The constitution stipulates that the Armed Forces shall be equipped and maintained to perform their role of defense of Ghana as well as such other functions for the development of Ghana as the President may determine.

Ghanaian statutory law officially prohibits civilians and foreign nationals from wearing military apparel such as camouflage clothing, or clothing that resembles a military dress. Officially, fines and/or short prison sentences can be passed against civilians seen in a military dress in public. In addition, Ghanaian law prohibits the photographing of Ghana Armed Forces (GAF), Ghana Military Police (GMP), Ghana Police Service, or GAF military personnel and vehicles on duty. These are clear indications that the Ghana Armed Forces, which the military falls under, is a serious office that commands huge respect by the constitution, hence the concerns of the minority of a possible loss of dignity if nothing is done about the current situation.

Mr. Haruna wants the President to ensure the constitutional role of the police and the military are well adhered to.

The majority called on President Akufo Addo to as a matter of urgency address the issue to help bring sanity to the operations of the Ghana Armed Forces.

Nana Ama/Bono Region