The Ghana Armed Forces have falsified reports of a soldier, Private Asare Boateng arrested for extorting GHC 23,000 from a civilian.
According to them, he is neither a Soldier nor is he a Bandsman at the Signal Regiment or a Civilian Staff of the GAF, but rather an imposter who goes about extorting money from civilians and promising to build them Castles in the air.
A communique issued by the Ghana Armed Forces explained that on Friday 16 September 2022, Asare Boateng who was dressed in a camouflage uniform, was arrested by the military in Takoradi for extorting monies from unsuspecting civilians at Elmina in the Central Region by concealing the identity of a soldier.
He confessed to engaging in impersonation and extortion during interrogation.
He was then handed over to the Kwasimintim Police Station at Takoradi for further legal action.
The statement reads; “GAF, therefore, wishes to emphasise that the suspect (Asare Boateng) is not a Soldier and not affiliated to any Unit of the Ghana Armed Forces contrary to the reports in the media and therefore should not be regarded as such.
“In the same view, GAF wishes to entreat the media to take advantage of its open door policy and to seek clarifications on such matters in order to avoid the publication of misleading reports that drags GAF into disrepute.
“GAF also wishes to assure the general public that it will continuously work with all stakeholders to weed out criminal elements in the society, including any uniformed personnel who engages in an illegal activity so that the nation can have a secured environment for socio-economic development.”