Parliament calls for reforms in security recruitment process - President visits victims
Parliament yesterday paid tribute to the six young persons who died at the El-Wak Sports Stadium in a military recruitment exercise for the Greater Accra Region.
They sent their condolences to the bereaved families of the deceased and wished those on admission speedy recovery.
The parliamentarians also called for reforms in the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF), especially in the recruitment process, urging further decentralisation of the process to forestall such fatalities and unfortunate incidents.
Some disappointed applicants after the disaster
The MPs further admitted the daunting challenge of youth unemployment that confronted the nation and resolved have themselves to work together to find lasting solutions to the menace.
Those who made the statements included the Minority Chief Whip, Frank Annoh-Dompreh; the National Democratic Congress (NDC) member for Ketu North, Eric Edem Agbana; the National Patriotic Party (NPP) member for Atwima Kwanwoma, Kofi Amankwa-Manu; the NDC member for Builsa North, James Agalga; the NDC member for Pusiga, Hajia Laadi Ayii Ayamba, and the NPP member for Takoradi, Kwabena Okyere Darko-Mensah.
Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin (left), Speaker of Parliament, in a chat with one of the victims at the 37 Military Hospital
The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, directed the Committee on Defence and Interior to follow up on the matter.
He later led leadership of the House to visit the El-Wak stampede casualties at the 37 Military Hospital.
“I want to, on behalf of the House, humbly convey the deepest condolences to the parents and families of the deceased,” he said.
Brief
The acting Minister of Defence, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, announced the suspension of the recruitment exercise for the Greater Accra Region on the floor of Parliament, but said the exercises in the other 15 regions would progress.
Some disappointed applicants after the disaster
He said the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) had instituted an internal board of inquiry to unearth the causes of the unfortunate incident.
Some applicants at the venue
Dr Forson said the safety and dignity of applicants remained Paramount, and that the ministry would take every step necessary to prevent a recurrence of the tragedy.
A former Minister of Defence and MP for Bimbilla, Dominic Nitiwul, called for sweeping reforms in the recruitment process, saying though it had been in place for long, it was time to review it.
He called for the suspension of the processes in all regional centres until investigations were completed.
President John Dramani Mahama (2nd from right) commiserating with one of the victims during his visit to the hospital
Mr Nitiwul also called on other security agencies that fell under the Ministry for the Interior to take a cue from the unfortunate incident and put in place measures to forestall the unfortunate happening.
