The Ghana Armed Forces, an institution revered for its discipline and professionalism, has come under scrutiny following the tragic events of last Wednesday, when six young women died during an enlistment exercise at the El-Wak Stadium in Accra.
The six, who left home with both desperation and hope, did not live to complete the process.
The heart-wrenching occurrence crashed beautiful dreams, ended family hopes, and tamed long-held ambitions that exposed the bitter flaws of the recruitment exercise.
For us, the outcome of the latest enlistment exercise brought to the fore the importance of prioritising safety and accountability within the protocols of the enlistment regime.
The sheer negligence that led to this tragedy is too appalling to recount. Six precious lives, full of promise and potential, were lost needlessly, leaving behind grieving families and a nation in mourning.
The fact that the incident occurred during a recruitment exercise that should celebrate young Ghanaians' desire to serve their country makes it all the more tragic.
The Ghana Armed Forces is one of the most respected institutions in the country.
Within a jurisdiction that has ranked many state institutions, sometimes including even the judiciary, low on the corruption scale, the military have maintained a significant high profile for the integrity of the men and women in uniform.
Sadly, however, beyond the issuance of a press statement and an impromptu press briefing – or rather a rebuttal – at the 37 Military Hospital by the head of the military public relations outfit that lasted less than 20 seconds, the military has taken shield behind the political actors amid the raging controversy.
The Ghana Armed Forces' announcement of a probe into the matter is a welcome step, but did the military need a probe to straighten crooked procedures and protocols?
Must it take the deaths of the young women to see what was wrong with the enlistment protocols?
Among the Ghana Armed Forces’ cherished credentials is its strength in intelligence work. Given the experiences of past enlistment exercises and the fact that such recruitments had not happened in the open in about five years, the chances of a massive turnout could not be lost on anyone.
Besides, the number of applicants were already known to the military administration to compel the necessary arrangements to prevent disaster.
A government delegation that included ministers of state, Members of Parliament and heads of state agencies have rightly commiserated with the families.
Additionally, the government is giving qualified members of the bereaved families automatic entry into the army as replacement for the deceased.
These gestures, in addition to President John Dramani Mahama’s visit to the injured at the 37 Military Hospital, are laudable.
However, these gestures, no matter how sincere, cannot bring back the lives lost or undo the pain inflicted on the families.
The temptation to demand that heads must roll is strong.
The petty errors that cost lives are too many and frequent.
This should not be seen as business as usual.
Those responsible for this latest act must not be shielded. Full accountability will bring the affected families a level of justice and a measure of restoration.
Failure to achieve accountability on this matter will be a slap in the face of the bereaved families and a betrayal of the trust reposed in the Ghana Armed Forces.
We demand that investigation into the matter be thorough, transparent and swift, and that those responsible should be held accountable for their actions.
The Ghana Armed Forces must rise to the challenge and prove that they are capable of protecting not only the nation but also the lives of those who seek to serve the institution.
To the families of the victims, we extend our deepest condolences.
Your loved ones will not be forgotten, and their memory will serve as a catalyst for change.
May the memory of the deceased be a reminder of the importance of prioritising safety and accountability.
