BY VALENTIA TETTEH
Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, has directed the Parliamentary Committee on Defence and Interior to expedite the process of appointing a substantive Minister for Defence.
Speaking on the floor of Parliament on Wednesday, November 12, 2025, following statements on the tragic stampede at the El-Wak Sports Stadium, the Speaker said the current Acting Minister, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, has shown competence but is overburdened with other responsibilities.
“It’s not because the current acting minister is not capable,” he said. “But we know the pressures on him, and we need someone who can provide full reports and address some of the issues you’ve raised.”
Mr. Bagbin also called for reforms in the Ghana Armed Forces’ recruitment process, suggesting a continuous enlistment system to prevent overcrowding and tragic outcomes.
“What prevents this country from having a continuous recruitment process?” he asked. “We don’t have to wait and do it once every year or two, creating backlogs that lead to rushed processes and unfortunate incidents.”
The Speaker tasked the Defence and Interior Committee to engage with the ministry and later brief Parliament on recommendations to improve recruitment procedures.
The Ghana Armed Forces has meanwhile confirmed that six people died during the El-Wak recruitment exercise and urged the public to disregard unverified reports on the incident.
