Accra — The Military High Command says it has "noted with deep concern the upsurge in the rate at which some military personnel are enticed to offer their services to private individuals, friends, relatives and sometimes agencies for a fee."

In a press release issued yesterday the High Command described such services as ranging from "land guard duties, protection for self-installed chiefs involved in chieftaincy disputes, collection of debts, among others."

Observing further, the release said "anytime military personnel get involved in such issues, civilians concerned, most invariably, craftily push the culpability to the soldiers who have to face the appropriate disciplinary action. In all these cases not only does the conduct of the soldiers who throw their careers into jeopardy but their actions cast a slur on the image of the Ghana Armed Forces."

It warned "our civilian counterparts, be they individuals, groups or agencies who are fond of soliciting unwarranted assistance from the service personnel" that they do so at their own risk as it is an offence to do so.

The release said "military personnel have been warned to desist from this practice henceforth and any of them who provides unofficial and unauthorized assistance to any private individual, agency, company or organization that will tarnish the reputation of the Ghana Armed Forces will be doing so at his/or her own risk."