El-Wak tragedy: Speaker Alban Bagbin demands recruitment system overhaul
The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, has called for a comprehensive review of Ghana’s recruitment system into the Armed Forces and other public sector institutions following the deadly stampede at the El-Wak Sports Stadium in Accra, on Wednesday, November 12, 2025.
Mr. Bagbin said the tragic incident could have been avoided if proper safety and organisational measures had been in place during the recruitment process.
He made the remarks during a visit to victims of the stampede at the 37 Military Hospital, where several injured persons are receiving treatment.
Rt.Hon.Alban S.K.Bagbin interacting with one of the injured applicants
Officials at the hospital confirmed that six people died in the incident, five others remain in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), and 12 more are in fairly critical condition.
Speaking to journalists after his visit, the Speaker expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy and urged all stakeholders to work together to prevent a recurrence.
“We can rethink this whole process of recruitment and enlistment, even the entire system of how we employ people into the public sector, to prevent future occurrences,” he said.
“We are saddened and shocked. This is a day no Ghanaian would ever wish to see repeated. But we must all work together—this is not the responsibility of one person or institution alone. Our focus should be on preventing similar tragedies and, more immediately, on saving the lives of those who are injured.”Source:Sammi Wiafe
