Annoh-Dompreh Calls for Immediate Suspension of Military Recruitment After El Wak Tragedy

Accra, Ghana – Deputy Minority Whip, Frank Annoh Dompreh, has called for the immediate suspension of the ongoing Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) recruitment exercise following the tragic stampede at the El Wak Sports Stadium that claimed at least 12 lives and left several others injured.

Speaking on the floor of Parliament on Wednesday, Mr. Annoh-Dompreh described the incident as a national tragedy and a sign of systemic failure that demands urgent action from both Parliament and the Ministry of Defence.

“These victims were once among thousands of Ghanaians waiting for the opportunity to join the Ghana Armed Forces, but met their fate in such an unfortunate event,” he said. “This is no small matter to shelve, and as concerned and indeed affected leaders, we must move to restore hope in our people, even in this time of grief.”

Member of Parliamnet for Ketu North Edem Agbana also expressed deep sorrow at the rising death toll and insisted that the situation must mark a turning point in how recruitment exercises are conducted nationwide.

“The grief heightened when other reports came indicating that the death toll was now at at least 6 persons,” he told Parliament. “It then came clearly to me that we must act immediately to resolve the risks associated with such recruitment processes which have lingered for too long.”

Mr. Annoh-Dompreh urged the immediate suspension of the ongoing recruitment process to allow for a comprehensive review of the procedures, emphasizing decentralization and safety measures to prevent future tragedies.

“I resolve to make this important call as the first step to immediately suspend the recruitment process for the time being. We must urgently ensure that the process is decentralized, or further decentralized, to address the excessively large crowds as well as the risks faced by people travelling from various parts of the country,” he added.

“This is not merely a tragic accident. It is a profound and systemic failure — an indictment of a system that has lost its effectiveness,” he declared. “This sad news from El Wak is a deafening wake-up call. The question is no longer about protocol or procedure; it is about humanity and leadership.”

According to parliamentary reports, the ongoing recruitment program involves an estimated 50,000 youth across multiple regions seeking enlistment into the Ghana Armed Forces, reflecting the massive public demand for employment opportunities in the security sector.