A 20-year-old washing bay attendant, Alex Cobbina, also known as Mobitel, has been fined GHC12,000 by an Accra Circuit Court for impersonating a military officer.
Cobbina was found guilty of wearing camouflage trousers and a naval vest in a TikTok video that went viral in December 2024. The court ruled that he would serve a three-year prison term if he failed to pay the fine.
Cobbina faced charges of falsely pretending to be a public officer and possessing military uniforms and accoutrements. He pleaded guilty during his first court appearance on December 20, 2024, and sought forgiveness. However, Presiding Judge Bright Samuel Acquah deferred sentencing to January 9, 2025, before delivering his final judgment.
In addition to the GHC12,000 fine, Cobbina was fined another GHC6,000 for possession of military gear, with a default sentence of two years of hard labor. Both sentences are to run concurrently.
Chief Inspector Abel Amanie, who led the prosecution, stated that Cobbina’s actions drew complaints from officers of the Ghana Navy headquarters. The TikTok video, posted on December 9, 2024, showed Cobbina posing as a military officer while commenting on President John Mahama’s remarks about dismissing military recruits enlisted through protocol arrangements. The video caught the attention of the Chief of Naval Staff, prompting an investigation.
Cobbina was arrested in Madina, Accra, and handed over to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID). During a search of his residence in Apam, military items—including camouflage trousers, a naval inner vest, a camouflage nose mask, and boots—were retrieved in the presence of his employer, Mr. Ernest Baidoo.
In his defense, Cobbina claimed the military uniforms were left in a vehicle he had washed by a soldier client.
He admitted to creating the TikTok video to voice concerns for his senior schoolmates who might be affected by the President’s comments. Cobbina also stated that he deleted the video a day after posting it.
The court emphasized the gravity of impersonating a public officer and unlawfully possessing military gear, highlighting the potential risks such actions pose to national security.
Cobbina’s sentencing serves as a stern warning against the misuse of military symbols and attire for personal or public gain.
