A 20-year-old washing bay attendant was fined by an Accra Circuit Court for impersonating a military officer by wearing camouflage pants and a naval vest, and for posting a video of himself on TikTok.
Alex Cobbina, also known as Mobitel, was fined GH₵12,000, with the alternative of serving three years in jail if the fine is not paid. He faced charges of falsely pretending to be a public officer and possessing military uniforms and accoutrements.
Cobbina pleaded guilty and sought forgiveness when he was first arraigned on December 20, 2024. The court convicted him and deferred sentencing until today.
Presiding Judge Mr. Bright Samuel Acquah sentenced Cobbina to pay GH₵12,000 or serve three years in prison, along with an additional fine of GH₵6,000 or two years of hard labor for possessing military gear.
The prosecution, led by Chief Inspector Abel Amanie, informed the court that the complainants were officers from the Ghana Navy headquarters, while Cobbina worked as a washing bay attendant in Apam, Central Region.
On December 9, 2024, the Chief of Naval Staff noticed Cobbina on social media, dressed in military camouflage trousers and a naval T-shirt, while posing as a military officer. In the video, Cobbina was heard discussing a statement made by President Mahama regarding the dismissal of military recruits who had been admitted through protocol means.
After surveillance, Cobbina was arrested in Madina, Accra, and was handed over to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) for further investigation.
Cobbina claimed that an army client had left old military uniforms in his car after having it washed, and he decided to keep them. He explained that he made the video because he was concerned about how President Mahama’s statement might affect his senior schoolmates.
During the investigation, military-related items were found at Cobbina’s residence in Apam, including camouflage trousers, a naval inner vest, a camouflage nose mask, and boots. These items were recovered in the presence of his employer, Mr. Ernest Baidoo, and were kept as evidence.
In his initial statement, Cobbina denied being a military officer but admitted to creating and posting the video. However, he deleted the video the following day.
