Commander-in-chief of the Armed Forces and President of Ghana, John Dramani Mahama’s decision to wear military uniform at a military event on Thursday in Accra has sparked controversy.
A US-based Professor Kwaku Asare has questioned the legality of his choice. The professor with more than 4,500 following on Facebook raised questions suggesting the president violated the National Liberation Council Decree (NLCD) 177.
Professor Asare wrote:
“Dear Larry Gbevlo-Lartey
“Advice me as to the legality of a President wearing military uniform in light of section 1 of NLCD 177 to the effect that, “No person shall wear or use any military uniform, equipment, accoutrements or other material unless he is a member of the Armed Forces of Ghana wearing or using the uniform, equipment, accoutrements or material which he is authorised to wear or use.” President Mahama was at a military durbar at Burma Camp in Accra where he commissioned the Naval headquarters.
It is the first time the president has been seen in uniform and indeed the first a president with no military background has worn the army green military camouflage.
While Ghanaians are familiar with Flt Lt. (Rtd) Jerry Rawlings donning the uniform at military functions during his presidency, no other president in the 4th republic has worn it.
The trending photo has surprised a retired soldier and a legal practitioner Rtd Group Captain Lawyer Obeng Ntim.
“I do not see the hullabaloo about this whole thing”, he told Dzifa Bampoh on Joy FM’s Newsnite Thursday.
He maintained that the president is free to wear any uniform because he is the commander-in-chief. He has “every right to wear army uniform, to wear naval uniform or air force uniform.”
He referred to Emperor Haile Selassie of Ethiopia wearing uniforms though he was a civilian leader.
The President Goodluck Jonathan also wore army camouflage during a visit to Mubi in Adamawa State in February 2015.
President Uhuru Kenyatta in military uniform also faced criticism. A blogger Morris Kiruga in an article suggested it is dangerous for a civillian leader to wear the uniform.
“By appearing in military fatigues while officiating military functions, President Kenyatta is blurring the delicate distinction between the office he holds as a civilian head and his command over the military. He is not a member of the military simply by virtue of his constitutional duty to command it. The President must always be a civilian. He commands the military in the people’s name.”
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