A legal brain has flayed President John Mahama over his obsession for military uniforms anytime he visits military installations in recent times.
Prof. Stephen Kweku Asare argues although Mahama per the constitution is the Commander-in-Chief of the Ghana Armed Forces, he is “bastardizing” the military as well as breaking the law as a civilian by wearing their uniforms.
“The GAF frown upon civilians wearing military uniforms or operating military accouterments. The President is a civilian and should desist from wearing military uniform or wielding military weapons.
“When the President wears military uniforms (operates military equipment or choose to stay at the Barracks), he blurs the constitutional distinction between the GAF and its civilian command. It also bastardizes the military laws against civilians wearing military uniforms.
“The President should set an example for civilians by refraining from wearing military uniforms. His deeds, including his wardrobe, should also remind the GAF that they are under civilian command,” the US-based lawyer remarked in a Facebook post.
Below are his observations
I cannot recall President Kuffour or Mills ever wearing military uniforms. President Rawlings wore military uniforms but, like Queen Elizabeth II, he earned that by virtue of his service in the military.
The Commander-in-Chief of the Ghana Armed Forces is a constitutional position given to the President to signify that the armed forces are under civilian control.
The Commander-in-Chief is not a military rank or title and there are no insignia or uniforms associated with it. Being the Commander-in-Chief does not entitle the President to wear military uniform anymore than it entitles him to carry around an AK 47, ride in a pinzgauer or be housed at Gondar Barracks.
The Commander-in-Chief designation is reserved for civilians. By explicit constitutional design, the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) are subject to civilian command. This is an extremely important separation of power given our prior history of having military men who held the position of Commander-in-Chief.
Civilian control of the GAF is an important doctrine that places ultimate responsibility for strategic national security decision-making in the hands of the civilian political leadership, rather than the professional military officers, as happened under prior military regimes. Thus, under the Constitution, the military brass reports to the civilian Commander-in-Chief but that does not make the latter a military man or entitle him to any military benefits.
It must also be clarified that the Commander-in-Chief designation has nothing to do with a "commander" in the GAF. A "commander" in the GAF is a commanding officer or team leader. Thus, in the navy, a "commander" is the executive officer of a vessel. In the army, a lieutenant colonel is the commander of a battalion. In the air force, a wing commander commands a flying squadron. A "commander" is a rank in the GAF but a Commander-in-Chief is not. The former is an active member of the GAF and is subject to military law. The latter is not.
In my opinion, it is important to reinforce at all times the constitutional principle that the GAF are subject to civilian command. It is equally important to reinforce that the President is a civilian and his designation as Commander-in-Chief does not make him a member of the GAF or entitle him to any honours, benefits or uniforms of the GAF.
The GAF frown upon civilians wearing military uniforms or operating military accouterments. The President is a civilian and should desist from wearing military uniform or wielding military weapons.
When the President wears military uniforms (operates military equipment or choose to stay at the Barracks), he blurs the constitutional distinction between the GAF and its civilian command. It also bastardizes the military laws against civilians wearing military uniforms.
The President should set an example for civilians by refraining from wearing military uniforms. His deeds, including his wardrobe, should also remind the GAF that they are under civilian command.
The uniform was meant for persons in uniform. Let us keep it that way!
Da Yie!
Source: Prof Kweku Asare (Starrfmonline)
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my president JDM you look mwakkk, you look nice paaaaaaaaaaaaaa, opposition to hell with you ai
Proud COMMANDER IN CHIEF OF THE GHANA ARMED FORCES. jealousy go shame go burn the sea.
You can go burn the sea if you don't agree with the President in uniform.
Iam a ganaian living in USA and i always proud to be ghanaian. When i saw my President in that military uniform,i ask myself if the prsident dont have advicers around him or they dont understand the titile of the president as CHIEF OF STAFF? Mr President you have to learn better.
looking gorgeous JDM. Observers are worried
JDM, don't force it. The more you try the more it looks like "taifi di wo" (aka. you want to go to the gents).
We voted for a president but we got a fuuuuuuoooool
He is even looking like a CORPSE
Jon Dubai ***barred word*** Mahama should be very careful what he wishes for himself in life ; because sometimes what you wish from God is what you get ; Jon Mahama is not a soldier have never enlisted in the army but an elected politician who now suddenly prefers to wear military uniforms to show his status as the Commander in Chief of the army ; his dressage reminds me of Kutu Acheampong ; Gen Akuffo ; and Afrifa who loved wearing their army uniforms to show off how handsome they were in army uniforms but all of them did not dream that they will all be shot by this aimless murderer JJ Rawlings one day ; the funny thing is that psychologically Jon Mahama is attempting to tell the army that he is also one of them and that any thoughts of an uprising in future should not befall him and his family but we all know this 'man is living in a cloud cukoos land'; Jon Mahama knows that one-day there will an uprising which will mean he will be killed with his family members including Ibrahim Mahama his brother besides bribing the army will not work ; you see coming events caste their shadows because all the people killed were men in uniform and today Jon Mahama seem to choose to be in uniform to signal his own gruesome death -JON Mahama be prepared ONE DAY !!!!!!! for bullets through your backside - Amen !!!!!!
I agree with you @valentino edwardo. If only this Prof. understood the significance (Mills' funeral)...