Minority Chief Whip, Frank Annoh-Dompreh, has described the tragedy at the El-Wak Sports Stadium as a wake-up call to the nation, lamenting what he termed a “systemic failure” that led to the deaths of several young Ghanaians during the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) recruitment exercise.
Speaking on the floor of Parliament on Wednesday, November 12, the Nsawam-Adoagyiri MP said the incident should not be dismissed as a mere accident.
“This is not just a tragic accident; it is a profound and systemic failure an indictment of a system that has lost its effectiveness,” he stated. “The sad news from El-Wak is a deafening wake-up call. It is a summons to the Ghana Armed Forces, the Ministry of Defence, and the nation at large. The question is no longer about protocol or procedure it is about humanity and leadership.”
Mr. Annoh-Dompreh said he was deeply shaken by the reports of the tragedy, noting, it had claimed the lives of young people whose only ambition was to serve their country.
“It is with deep sorrow that I make this statement to acknowledge the devastating impact of this incident, which has taken the lives of six potential recruits and, according to later reports, the toll has sadly risen to at least twelve,” he told Parliament.
He urged the government and relevant authorities to take urgent steps to reform the recruitment process to prevent future occurrences.
“We must act immediately to eliminate the risks associated with such recruitment exercises, which have been ignored for far too long,” he stressed.
