The Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) says it has arrested four persons posing as officers of the service.

The four namely;  AB1 Arhen Ebenezer, Mustapha Maurris, Oscar Eshun, and Stephen Zubbuy Matsi were arrested between Tuesday, May 5, and Tuesday, May 12, 2020.

A statement issued and signed on behalf of the Director of Public Relations by R Omane-Agyei, Squadron Leader said the first suspect, AB1 Arhen Ebenezer was arrested on Tuesday, May 5, by personnel from the Southern Command Headquarters of the GAF during a patrol at Katamanso in the Kpone-Katamanso Municipality.

It said the suspect who was dressed in camouflage shorts and an olive-green vest, claimed to be at the Naval Base, Tema but further checks with the Eastern Naval Command for identification proved false.

"He was subsequently handed over to the Tema Regional Police Command for further investigations."

It said further interrogation of AB1 Arhen Ebenezer led to the arrest of one Mustapha Maurris, another imposter who also posed as a soldier at Kpone.

Oscar Eshun, the third imposter, was arrested by the Naval Intelligence (NI) Operatives of the Western Naval Command (WNC) at Inchaban, a suburb of Sekondi-Takoradi, on Friday, May 8, for posing as military personnel.

The statement said a search of his residence at Essikado revealed a toy pistol, two Navy vests, two combat boots, a belt, Navy trousers, and tracksuit, adding that the suspect was handed over to the Inchaban Police Command for further investigation and possible prosecution.

The fourth suspect, Stephen Zubbuy Matsi, 32-year old, was also arrested by Operatives from Defence Intelligence (GHQ DI) on Tuesday, May 12, at Pokuase ACP for posing as a soldier from the First Infantry Battalion (1 Bn), Tema for possessing a Ghana Armed Forces laminated Military Identity Card bearing the identity of a relative who is a serving Airman.

"Upon his arrest, the suspect confirmed that, he was not a soldier but had a picture of himself in a military camouflage and an air blue uniform (of the Ghana Air Force) saved on his mobile phone. He also had a picture of the Chief of the Defence Staff (CDS) and some military personnel on his phone."

The statement said further checks revealed that the suspect introduced himself to his girlfriend as a soldier in 2016 and subsequently visited her on two occasions in military uniform at Akatsi in the Volta Region.

"A search of his residence at Canada, a suburb of Ablekuma by the Operatives retrieved a military camouflage trousers, a military pouch, a camouflage cap, two camouflage inner vests and a camouflage hip pouch.
"The suspect has been handed over to the Ghana Military Police for further action," it added.

The statement urged the public who may have fallen victim to the activities of the suspects to contact the above-mentioned police stations to assist in investigations.

It further entreated the public to report any person(s) found in such suspicious characters to the nearest Police and Military Installation for investigations.

"GAF once again wishes to remind the public of the restriction on use of military uniforms and equipment under the National Liberation Council (NLC) Decree 177(1967)," it added.