An Accra Circuit Court has sentenced 20-year-old washing bay attendant, Alex Cobbina, to three years in prison for impersonating a military officer and unlawfully possessing military uniforms and related items. Additionally, he was fined GHC12,000.
The conviction follows a viral video posted by Mr. Cobbina last year on the social media platform TikTok, where he was seen wearing camouflage trousers and a naval vest while claiming to be a military officer.
The Ghana Navy, which monitored the video, noted that Cobbina commented on remarks allegedly made by President John Dramani Mahama concerning the dismissal of military recruits who joined the service through protocol arrangements.
In response to the incident, the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) issued a stern warning, urging the public to refrain from using social media to impersonate military personnel or spread misleading information.
“GAF reiterates that persons who are involved in such acts would be tracked down and made to face the full rigours of the law. The GAF further states that the public should heed the constant education and numerous reminders to desist from making malicious comments on social media,” the statement emphasized.
The GAF further appealed for public cooperation in preserving the integrity of the military, stating that negative social media content could harm national development efforts.
