The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, has called for a comprehensive overhaul of Ghana’s recruitment processes 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 described the incident as a preventable tragedy, stressing that proper safety and organisational measures could have averted the loss of lives.
The Speaker made the remarks during a visit to victims of the stampede at the 37 Military Hospital, where several injured persons are receiving treatment.
Hospital officials confirmed that six people lost their lives, while five others remain in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and twelve more are in critical condition.
Speaking to journalists after his visit, Mr Bagbin expressed profound sorrow over the incident and urged all stakeholders to collaborate in reforming the country’s recruitment systems.
“We can rethink this whole process of recruitment and enlistment indeed, the entire system of how we employ people into the public sector to prevent future occurrences,” he said.
The Speaker further emphasized the need for collective responsibility, noting that preventing such tragedies requires cooperation across institutions and society.
“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,” he added.
