The government has reached out to the families of the six young women who lost their lives in last Wednesday’s military enlistment stampede at El-Wak Stadium in Accra, offering condolences and pledging support. The gesture follows the identification of the deceased and comes as a state delegation visited their homes to personally express solidarity.
The team included high-ranking officials such as the Deputy Defence Minister Brogya Genfi, Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection Dr. Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, Greater Accra Regional Minister Linda Ocloo, senior Ghana Armed Forces officers, the CEO of the National Youth Authority, Osman Abdulai Ayariga, as well as members of Parliament and local government executives.
Several victims who were injured remain under intensive care, while others have been treated and discharged for follow-up. In a social media update, Deputy Defence Minister Genfi confirmed that the leaders overseeing the recruitment exercise had been instructed to step aside to facilitate a full investigation. Recruitment in Accra is suspended until further notice, though exercises in other regions are proceeding normally.
The tragedy has also reignited calls for reform in Ghana’s public recruitment systems. Both the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference (GCBC) and the African Women Leaders Network (AWLN) Ghana Chapter described the stampede as a reflection of deeper institutional weaknesses. The GCBC highlighted the need for moral renewal and strengthened accountability, urging national leaders to act compassionately while investigations continue.
Meanwhile, the AWLN Ghana Chapter pointed to systemic vulnerabilities faced by young women in economic pursuits, advocating for decentralisation and digitalisation of recruitment processes to ensure safety, fairness, and inclusivity. The organisation stressed that the lives lost should trigger long-term systemic changes rather than be forgotten.
The incident at El-Wak Stadium saw over 30 people injured, with five in critical condition at the 37 Military Hospital. The acting Minister of Defence, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, has confirmed that an internal investigation has begun to determine the factors that led to the fatal stampede, amid widespread grief and demands for accountability.
