The Minority in Parliament has called for the immediate suspension of all ongoing military recruitment exercises across Ghana following the tragic stampede at the El-Wak Sports Stadium that claimed six lives and left several others injured.
The incident, which occurred on Wednesday, November 12, 2025, has renewed concerns about the safety, transparency, and management of public recruitment exercises.
Members of Parliament on the Defence and Interior Committee, led by Ranking Member Hon. Rev. John Ntim Fordjour, visited the 37 Military Hospital, where victims of the tragedy are receiving treatment. Addressing the media after the visit, Hon. Rev. Fordjour urged the government to prioritize the safety of citizens by halting all recruitment activities until comprehensive reforms are undertaken.
“We are appealing that in the best interest of safeguarding the lives of potential recruits, all nationwide recruitment exercises be put to a halt and suspended for the time being, not just Accra.
“All nationwide recruitment processes must be halted so that a very good job can be done in probing, in reviewing, reforming, and then when we put in very optimal measures, we can recommence the process”
Hon. Rev. John Ntim Fordjour, Ranking Member of Parliament’s Defence and Interior Committee
He further appealed to the government to provide fair compensation to the victims and their families. According to him, the lives lost during the exercise represent the nation’s potential defenders, and their sacrifice must not go unacknowledged.
Reforming Recruitment and Ensuring Safety
The Minority’s call adds to growing public pressure for a complete review of how the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) conducts its recruitment exercises.
Thousands of young people had gathered at the El-Wak Stadium in Accra for the screening, but overcrowding and poor crowd management led to chaos and fatalities. The GAF has since announced the suspension of the Accra exercise, though similar recruitment activities continue in other regions.
However the Minority insisted that a piecemeal suspension is not enough.
They argued that the safety of prospective recruits should be guaranteed nationwide before the process resumes. The Defence and Interior Committee pledged to work closely with relevant ministries to ensure that reforms address logistical, procedural, and emergency response weaknesses exposed by the incident.
Chairman of the Committee, Hon. James Agalga, said the tragedy underscores both the determination of the youth and the urgent need to create more employment opportunities to absorb their enthusiasm. He described the eagerness of thousands of young people to join the armed forces as “a reflection of patriotism and national commitment” that must be harnessed responsibly.
Hon. Rev. Fordjour also appealed to all Ghanaians to refrain from politicising the incident, calling for unity in grief and responsibility in reform.
“This is not the time for politics,” he said, emphasising that the tragedy should serve as a national wake-up call for institutional introspection and stressing that lessons must be learned to prevent similar occurrences in future recruitment exercises.
Akufo-Addo Mourns Victims
Meanwhile, former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo has expressed profound sorrow over the incident. In a public statement, he extended condolences to the families of the six young people who lost their lives and wished the injured a speedy recovery.
“I returned from Angola to the devastating news of the tragic deaths of six potential recruits into the Ghana Armed Forces, with several others receiving treatment for varying degrees of injuries sustained from the incident, at the 37 Military Hospital in Accra”
Former President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo
He added that his “deep condolences” go to all bereaved families and loved ones affected by the tragedy and prayed for renewed strength for those recovering.
“It is my hope that each day will bring you renewed strength,” he stated. “May the Lord be with us all at this difficult moment.” Former President Akufo-Addo also urged national reflection, emphasising compassion and improved safety standards in future public recruitment activities.
The El-Wak stampede, which has dominated national discourse, continues to raise serious questions about Ghana’s public safety protocols and employment crisis. President John Dramani Mahama has directed that investigations into the incident be concluded swiftly, as the nation mourns the victims and reassesses its recruitment systems.
