Bagbin Calls for Major Overhaul of Ghana’s Recruitment System After El-Wak Tragedy
Speaker of Parliament visits victims, says deadly stampede exposes flaws in public sector hiring practices.
- Speaker Bagbin visits victims of the El-Wak recruitment stampede at 37 Military Hospital
- Six confirmed dead, five in ICU, and 12 others in critical condition
- Bagbin calls for a nationwide reform of recruitment and employment systems
Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin has urged a complete restructuring of Ghana’s recruitment system for the Armed Forces and other public institutions following the fatal stampede at the El-Wak Sports Stadium in Accra on Wednesday, November 12, 2025.
During a visit to the 37 Military Hospital, where survivors are receiving treatment, Mr. Bagbin lamented that the tragic event could have been avoided with proper safety protocols and better organization during the recruitment exercise.
Hospital officials confirmed that six people died, five remain in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), and 12 others are in critical condition.
Speaking to journalists after the visit, Mr. Bagbin expressed profound sorrow, emphasizing the need for a collaborative national effort to reform how public recruitment is conducted.
“We can rethink this whole process of recruitment and enlistment, even the entire system of how we employ people into the public sector, to prevent future occurrences,” he stated.
He added that this tragedy must serve as a wake-up call for authorities to prioritize safety and humane practices in all national recruitment processes.
“We are saddened and shocked. This is a day no Ghanaian would ever wish to see repeated. But we must all work together—this is not the responsibility of one person or institution alone.”
