Tamale N/R, Wednesday, November 12, 2025
The National Youth Wing of the New Patriotic Party (NPP) has called for an immediate investigation into the tragic incident at the El-Wak Sports Stadium in Accra, where a recruitment exercise by the Ghana Armed Forces reportedly resulted in the deaths of several young applicants.
According to initial reports, at least six people lost their lives — though other sources put the figure at twelve — following a stampede during a body selection exercise on Wednesday. Videos circulating on social media showed thousands of young Ghanaians struggling to enter the venue, with many reportedly traveling long distances from across the country in pursuit of employment opportunities.
In a statement issued and signed by the NPP National Youth Organizer, Salam Mustapha, the party described the incident as “unfortunate and unacceptable in this present era of advanced technology.”
The statement questioned the level of preparation and safety measures put in place by the organizers, demanding answers on crowd management and scheduling.
“What crowd control measures were put in place? Why was this not done in batches as the number of applicants was known? Did the officers on duty at the time mishandle the applicants in a way that triggered the stampede?” the statement queried.
The NPP Youth Wing urged the caretaker Minister of Defence to initiate a full-scale investigation to uncover the circumstances leading to the tragedy and to ensure accountability.
“We need an inquest into this serious issue to prevent a recurrence. All the youth were looking for was an opportunity to serve their nation and take care of themselves and their families. The pursuit of dreams and opportunities should not be perilous,” the statement added.
Mr. Mustapha extended condolences to the bereaved families and wished the injured a speedy recovery.
Source: National Youth Wing, New Patriotic Party (NPP)
Contact: +233 244 901 418 | www.newpatrioticparty.org
