BY: VALENTIA TETTEH
The Minority Chief Whip and Member of Parliament for Nsawam-Adoagyiri, Frank Annoh-Dompreh, has described the tragic incident at the El-Wak Sports Stadium as a wake-up call to the nation and a sign of systemic failure that must not be ignored.
Addressing Parliament on Tuesday, November 12, Mr. Annoh-Dompreh said the loss of lives during the Ghana Armed Forces recruitment exercise must not be treated as a routine accident.
“This is not merely a tragic accident; it is a profound and systemic failure, and the indictment of a system that has lost its effectiveness,” he stated. “This sad news from El-Wak is a deafening wake-up call. It is a direct 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.”
The Minority Chief Whip expressed deep sorrow over the deaths, revealing that reports indicated the death toll had risen beyond initial figures.
“My grief heightened when other reports came indicating that the death toll was now at least 12 persons,” he said.
Mr. Annoh-Dompreh called for an immediate suspension of the ongoing recruitment process and urged government to decentralize the exercise to prevent overcrowding and further casualties.
“We must act immediately to resolve the risks associated with such recruitment processes, which have lingered for too long. The process must be reviewed and decentralised to ensure safety and fairness,” he added.
He also called on the Deputy Minister for Defence to appear before Parliament to brief the House on measures being taken to safeguard future recruitment exercises.
“As an arm of government, we urgently need the Deputy Minister for Defence to come to the House and brief the people on what alternative measures will be employed to deal with such risks,” he stated.
Mr. Annoh-Dompreh urged a national review of recruitment practices to restore public confidence and honour the memory of the victims.
“In the spirit of patriotism, and in honour of those bold, hopeful victims whose spirits led them only to the brink of true service to Ghana, we must review the existing recruitment practices,” he concluded.
The El-Wak tragedy, which occurred during a Ghana Armed Forces recruitment exercise, has so far claimed several lives and left many injured. Parliament continues to receive briefings from the Defence Ministry as investigations progress.
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