GAF Recruitment Tragedy Was Preventable โ A Call for Safety and Accountability | By Kwabena Frimpong, MSc
A safety expertโs reflection on the El-Wak recruitment tragedy and urgent recommendations to prevent future loss of lives.
- Six lives lost and dozens injured in preventable recruitment stampede
- Expert blames poor safety planning and lack of crowd control
- Calls for suspension and restructuring of GAF recruitment process
Preventable Tragedy at GAF Recruitment Screening: A Call for Safety and ๐๐๐๐จ๐ฎ๐ง๐ญ๐๐๐ข๐ฅ๐ข๐ญ๐ฒ By ๐๐ฐ๐๐๐๐ง๐ ๐
๐ซ๐ข๐ฆ๐ฉ๐จ๐ง๐ , ๐๐๐
๐๐๐๐ฎ๐ฉ๐๐ญ๐ข๐จ๐ง๐๐ฅ ๐๐๐๐๐ญ๐ฒ, ๐๐๐๐ฅ๐ญ๐ก & ๐๐ง๐ฏ๐ข๐ซ๐จ๐ง๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ญ๐๐ฅ ๐๐๐ง๐๐ ๐๐ฆ๐๐ง๐ญ ๐๐ฑ๐ฉ๐๐ซ๐ญ
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As an Occupational Safety, Health and Environmental Management Expert, I am deeply saddened by the tragic outcome of the recent Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) recruitment screening exercise, an event that should have been routine, yet resulted in the loss of six young lives, 28 injuries, 12 critical cases, and 5 admissions to intensive care.
In the 21st century, it is unacceptable that a standard screening process, designed to identify capable recruits, could become a site of such tragedy. This incident highlights a serious breach of basic occupational health and safety principles and a failure in crowd management planning by the organizers.
With prior knowledge of the expected number of applicants nationwide, the GAF and Ministry of Defence had every opportunity to implement preventive safety measures. A well-structured screening plan would have significantly minimized the risks of overcrowding, exhaustion, and medical emergencies.
To prevent such unfortunate incidents in the future, the following measures are strongly recommended:
1. Scheduled Screening System: Applicants should be assigned specific dates and times to appear, based on pre-registration numbers, to reduce overcrowding.
2. Orderly Queuing and Access Control: Screening lines should operate on a first-come, first-served basis, with adequate supervision and crowd control measures.
3. Early Deployment of Screening Officers: Officers should be present ahead of time to maintain order, manage queues, and identify potential risks early.
4. Multiple Screening Teams: Increasing the number of screening stations or teams can reduce waiting time and physical strain on applicants.
5. Emergency Medical Support: Ambulance and first aid services should be on-site throughout the exercise to respond promptly to health emergencies.
6. Adequate Shelter and Rest Areas: Shaded seating arrangements and hydration points should be mandatory to prevent heat stress and fatigue.
I therefore urge all stakeholders particularly the GAF, Ministry of Defence, and related agencies to temporarily suspend the ongoing screening process. A restructured, safety-compliant scheduling system should be implemented, allowing applicants to receive individual notifications via text message or a unique digital code issued by the HR/IT department for specific time and day slots.
No recruitment drive should cost human lives. Every process must uphold the fundamental principles of safety, health, and human dignity.
