The speaker of Parliament, Joyce Bamford-Addo, on Tuesday referred to the Attorney-General and Minister of Justice, the issue of wrongful use of the Ghana Coat of Arms and claims that the items embossed with the national emblem were being advertised on the internet for sale. This was prompted by a statement on the “Wanton abuse of the Ghana Coat of Arms” made on the floor of the House by Joseph Boahen Aidoo (NPP-Amenfi East) and accompanied with copies of the advertisement of the embossed T-Shirts being advertised for sale for various prices, some up to $36. The Amenfi East MP said the Ghana Coat of Arms symbolised “our national identity and signified government official sanction. As a symbol of official authority it is found on all government official letter head, official documents such as the constitution, the Ghana passport, the national currencies, the uniforms of the police and other service personnel and all important places like the seat of government, the courts, Parliament of Ghana, government offices and Ghana missions abroad.” Mr. Boahen said to safeguard the sanctity of the use of the national emblem, the Flag and Arm Protection Act 1959(NO.61) made it an offence to use the design of the Ghana Flag or Coat of Arms without the license of the minister except on a public holiday or on a day proclaimed as a festive occasion. He said the law might have to be re-examined because the Ghana National Anthem entreated “us as Ghanaians, to raise the flag of Ghana high wherever we may be. But even so, we have to be circumspect in the use of the national flag”. Mr. Boahen said the restrictive use of the national emblem found expression in the state protocol, adding that, “hoisting the Ghana Flag or the Coat of Arms on a vehicle is the preserve” of the sitting President.” “Except for the sitting President and except with the express permission of the minister, therefore, embossing the Coat of Arms on vehicle of whatever kind-rickety vehicles, commercial vehicles, cargo trucks, motorbikes, as stickers, and what have you is illegal and abuse of Protocol, Mr. Boahen said. “Unfortunately, some District Chief Executives have joined in this wrong doing by boldly splashing the Ghana Coat of Arms on the windscreens of their official vehicles. They are even guiltier than the other offenders, Mr. Boahen added. He said though the use of the national emblem for commercial purposes attracted additional penalties, accounting to the Flag and Arms Protection Act, 1959, it was absolutely unfair to Mr. Amon Kotei, the renowned artist who designed the emblem for his piracy to go in any way when the State by law assumed exclusive patency over the design. Members of Parliament who contributed to the statement noted that people might be using the national emblem because of the love of their country and the motto “Freedom and Justice” oblivion of the restrictive nature of the emblem and called for more education on the use of the emblem. Source: The Ghanaian Times