Ranking Member of Parliament’s Defence and Interior Committee, Reverend John Ntim Fordjour, has cautioned against politicizing the recent stampede during the Ghana Armed Forces recruitment exercise at El-Wak Stadium that led to injuries and deaths.
He described the incident as a moment that requires national unity and sober reflection.
Speaking during the Committee’s visit to the 37 Military Hospital on Thursday to commiserate with victims, Rev. Fordjour emphasized that Parliament would approach the issue with objectivity and patriotism.
He said, “This is not a time for politics. I would urge everyone to refrain from politicizing this unfortunate matter. We will look into it objectively and offer our constructive recommendations for the way forward.”
Also read: El-Wak Stampede: Defence and Interior Committee commiserates with victims at 37 Military Hospital
The Ranking Member appealed to government and the Ghana Armed Forces to temporarily suspend all ongoing nationwide recruitment exercises until a comprehensive review of safety protocols is completed.
“In the best interest of safeguarding the lives of potential recruits, all nationwide recruitment exercises must be halted for the time being. We need to probe, review and put in optimal measures before resuming the process,” Rev. Fordjour said.
He also joined the Committee’s Chairman, Hon. James Agalga, in expressing condolences to the families of the six young women who lost their lives and commended the medical team at the 37 Military Hospital for their swift response.
“The six young ladies, brave potential soldiers who sadly passed, may their souls rest in peace,” he said. “Our sympathies also go to those who are wounded, and we thank Brigadier General Khabia and her medical team at 37 for the great job they have done in supporting the victims.”
Rev. Fordjour urged the government to consider adequate compensation packages for families of the deceased and support for those injured in the incident. He further proposed that recovered victims who still meet the Ghana Armed Forces’ medical standards should be prioritized in future recruitment.
He reaffirmed the Committee’s commitment to work closely with the Ministry of Defence and the Ghana Armed Forces to identify and correct lapses in the recruitment process.
“Our soldiers are some of the finest we have in the world. Let us look at this isolated incident, find out what caused it, and correct it with an objective view so it never happens again,” Rev. Fordjour noted.