Suhum Member of Parliament and Deputy Ranking Member on the Employment, Labour and Pensions Committee, Frank Asiedu Bekoe, has expressed deep shock over the deadly stampede at the El-Wak Sports Stadium during the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) recruitment exercise.
Speaking exclusively to Bono Hemaa of Accra-based Hot FM at Parliament House, the MP extended his condolences to the bereaved families and called for a thorough investigation into the circumstances that led to the tragedy, which claimed six lives and injured dozens.
Hon. Asiedu Bekoe questioned why such a catastrophic incident is occurring now, arguing that recruitment exercises under past governments—including those of Jerry John Rawlings, John Agyekum Kufuor, John Evans Atta Mills, John Mahama (first term), and Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addo—did not record such fatal outcomes.
He stressed that thousands of desperate applicants were “bundled” into the stadium with poor coordination, creating conditions that led to chaos and loss of life.
“Why now? What have we learnt as a country?” he asked, urging authorities to uphold safety, order, and professionalism in national recruitment processes.
His remarks come as Ghana mourns the young citizens who lost their lives in the stampede. The Ghana Armed Forces has since suspended the recruitment exercise indefinitely to review safety protocols and ensure better crowd management.
The incident occurred on Wednesday, November 12, 2025, when massive crowds surged at entry points into the El-Wak Sports Stadium. The intense pushing and jostling led to a stampede, resulting in multiple fatalities and serious injuries.
According to the military, six deaths have been confirmed. Twenty-eight victims were rushed to the 37 Military Hospital, with five in critical condition at the ICU and 12 reported to be in fairly stable but serious condition.
