The government has contacted families of the six young ladies who died during the military enlistment stampede at the El-Wak Stadium in Accra last Wednesday to convey the condolences of the nation for their loss, and to assure them of support.
A state delegation made the visits yesterday after the deceased had been identified.
The delegation included the Deputy Defence Minister, Brogya Genfi; the Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Dr Agnes Naa Momo Lartey; the Greater Accra Regional Minister, Linda Ocloo, and some senior officers of the Ministry of Defence and the Ghana Armed Forces.
Other members were the Chief Executive Officer of the National Youth Authority, Osman Abdulai Ayariga, some concerned Members of Parliament, and municipal and district chief executives.
Mr Genfi, in a post on one of his social media handles, said the families of the deceased had been identified and contacted.
He said some other victims who sustained injuries were still under intensive care, while the rest had been treated and discharged for follow-up care.
Probe
Mr Genfi said the heads overseeing the recruitment exercise had been directed to step aside to allow for a full inquiry into the incident.
“Recruitment in Accra remains suspended until further notice, while exercises in other regions continue smoothly,” he added.
“We mourn with the families, stand with the injured, and remain committed to ensuring the safety and dignity of all applicants,” the deputy minister said.
Calls for reforms
Meanwhile, two bodies have demanded urgent reforms of public recruitment systems following the tragedy at the military enlistment exercise.
In separate statements, the Ghana Catholic Bishops’ Conference (GCBC) and the African Women Leaders Network (AWLN) Ghana Chapter described the tragedy as a symptom of deeper institutional weaknesses and called for systemic changes to prevent a recurrence.
The GCBC said the tragedy reflected a breakdown of responsibility that required moral renewal and institutional discipline.
In a statement signed and issued by its President, Most Rev. Matthew Kwasi Gyamfi, the GCBC called on national leaders to act with compassion and justice as investigations progressed.
“The tragedy that occurred at the El-Wak Stadium broke our hearts.
“We unite our hearts with the bereaved families in grief and lift our prayers to Almighty God for the eternal repose of the departed and the swift recovery of all who are injured,” the statement read.
The GCBG also reaffirmed its commitment to promote systems that respect human life, foster accountability and advance the common good.
For its part, the AWLN Ghana Chapter said the tragedy had exposed the systemic vulnerabilities faced by young women in their pursuit of economic empowerment.
In a statement signed and issued by its Chairperson, Dr Charity Binka, the network urged the government to decentralise and digitise recruitment processes to ensure fairness, inclusivity and safety.
“This unfortunate incident should prompt a comprehensive review and decentralisation of the recruitment process.
“The lives lost should not be in vain.
They should serve as a wake-up call for systemic change that values both human life and equal opportunity,” the statement said. It added that there must be a transparent investigation and accountability for any lapses identified.
Background
The stampede at the recruitment centre led to more than 30 people sustaining injuries, with five of them in critical condition at the 37 Military Hospital.
The tragedy has sparked widespread grief and provoked urgent calls for accountability and reforms in the recruitment process.
In response, the acting Minister of Defence, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, has announced that an internal investigation has begun to determine the causes of the stampede.
