Professor Henry Kwesi Prempah, the executive director of the Ghana Center for Democratic Development (CDD-Ghana) says the ban on the wearing of smock in Bawku raises multiple grave constitutional problems.
Prof Prempeh said, the move also sets a precedent for banning all Ghanaian traditional clothing or custome in “security” situations.
“Seriously? So if smock is all you have or like to wear, then what? You are banned from the public square? Must everyone in or entering Bawku own other clothing beside a smock? How so? Effectively, the smock has been criminalised in Bawku, based on a statement of the REGSEC,” he stated in a post on Facebook.
The Upper East Regional Security Council (REGSEC) on Wednesday (24 November) banned the wearing of smock in the Bawku township with immediate effect.
The REGSEC in a statement said the ban is to prevent criminals and unscrupulous elements from concealing arms and ammunition in the smock to attack innocent civilians.
But Prof Prempeh said, “This “ban” raises multiple grave constitutional problems. It also sets a precedent for banning all Ghanaian traditional clothing or custome in “security” situations because all of our traditional clothing are good for concealing weapons! Making Ghana safe for “Western” clothing! Is that where we want to go?”
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