The National Liberation Council Decree (NLCD) 177 of 1967 clearly states that the use of military uniforms, equipment, or related materials is restricted to members of the Armed Forces of Ghana.
In accordance with this legislation, the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) has repeatedly issued warnings and imposed a ban on civilians wearing military-style attire.
Despite the legal restrictions and GAF’s prohibitions, there has been a noticeable increase in the use of military-style accoutrements, particularly among protesters.
Notably, the last two major protests in Ghana, namely #OccupyJulorbiHouse and #OccupyBOGprotest, have seen participants don military-pattern uniforms, including berets adorned with GAF insignias, military jackets, jumpers, and green and black slacks.
Addressing the potential impact of civilians and protesters wearing military-style uniforms on national security, Anthony Acquaye, a Security Expert associated with the Centre for Security Dialogue and Peace Advocacy, expressed concern.
“It is very dangerous to use military uniform or anything that links up to the military. The use of military accoutrements by civilians poses a lot of threats to all civilians in the sense that, most civilians with these uniforms tend to use them to impersonate and, in some cases, commit very heinous crimes. This does not only put the lives of general public at risk, but it is a serious dent on the military,” he stated.
He highlighted that this practice could lead to a surge in impersonation cases and crimes committed under the guise of GAF affiliation, posing a threat to public safety and tarnishing the reputation of the military.
To address the issue of civilians wearing military-pattern attire, Security Analyst Ibard Ibrahim suggested that the military high command should rigorously vet and oversee the production of military uniforms by contracted suppliers.
Additionally, he called for the apprehension and prosecution of individuals involved in the illegal printing and sale of military-style uniforms. According to Ibrahim, these measures would help curb the proliferation of such attire in civilian settings and prevent potential misuse.