Obour, MUSIGA President
THE GHANA Armed Forces (GAF) has cautioned musicians, film actors and the generally public to desist from using military uniforms as props for their performances or crafts without proper authorisation.
In an interview monitored by BEATWAVES on 3news.com, the Director of Public Relations of GAF, Colonel Eric Aggrey-Quashie, warned that persons who don military apparels without due diligence risk serving jail terms.
He said punishment for the unauthorised use of military gear is a fine or imprisonment for a term not exceeding one year or both.
Section 4 of the ‘restriction on the use of military uniforms and equipment Act 1967 (NLCD 177) states that “Any person who contravenes any provision of this decree commits an offense and is liable of conviction to a fine or to imprisonment to a term not exceeding one year or to both fine and imprisonment.”
He mentioned that the doors of his office are always open to anyone who wants to use military uniforms to easily walk into and get the needed assistance, stressing that the GAF had in the past provided such assistance.
“We have film producers. We give them uniform. We give them equipment, vehicles and those things to shoot their films. We give it to them, but those things are controlled,” he stated.
Colonel Aggrey-Quashie explained that criminals use military uniforms to perpetuate crime, hence the need to ensure that no one wears the uniform without authorisation.
“People are now committing a lot of criminal activities using military uniforms. For now, a lot of people don’t know about the law, but ignorance of the law is no excuse,” he averred.