Families of Six El-Wak Stampede Victims to Receive Automatic Military Enlistment — Deputy Defence Minister

Accra, Ghana — The government has announced that one family member from each of the six people who died in the El-Wak Stadium stampede will be given the opportunity for automatic enlistment into the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF), the Deputy Minister of Defence said during visits to the bereaved families. 0

What was announced

Deputy Defence Minister Ernest Brogya Genfi (referred to in some reports as Brogya Gyenfi) told relatives that President John Dramani Mahama/ the administration has directed that a replacement recruitment slot be reserved so that a qualified relative — a sibling or other family member chosen by the family — can be enlisted. The state also pledged to support funeral and burial arrangements for the deceased. 1

Context of the tragedy

The fatal stampede occurred during a Ghana Armed Forces recruitment screening exercise at El-Wak Sports Stadium in Accra. Thousands of applicants converged at the venue, and a sudden surge at an entry gate triggered a stampede that left six young women dead and several others injured. The GAF has launched an investigation and suspended some recruitment activities pending review. 2

Government response and follow-up

A state delegation visited the homes of the deceased to convey condolences and explain the support measures. Government officials said families should submit the names of qualified relatives for consideration, and that authorities will coordinate the replacement enlistment with regional officials. Some military officers overseeing the recruitment exercise have been ordered to step aside while the probe continues. 3

Public reaction

Reactions across social and traditional media have been mixed. Some observers view the offer of automatic enlistment as a meaningful gesture of honour and a tangible form of support; others insist that deeper reforms to the recruitment process, crowd control and event management are needed to prevent future tragedies. Calls for a full and transparent investigation remain strong. 4

Looking ahead

Authorities say they will complete investigations into the causes of the stampede, review recruitment protocols and implement measures to improve crowd safety at future exercises. Families of the deceased have been asked to liaise with regional government officials to nominate qualified relatives for the reserved recruitment slots. 5