Vice President Professor Naana Jane Opoku-Agyemang, on Saturday, November 15, visited victims of the El-Wak Sports Stadium stampede.

She was accompanied by the Deputy Minister for Defence, Ernest Brogya Gyemfi, and the Chief of Defence Staff, Major General William Agyapong. The Vice President visited the wards of the injured, interacted with them, and assured them of the government’s support toward their full recovery.

“We spent time with each patient, offering words of encouragement and assuring them of our support as they recover, she told the media.

Prof Jane Opoku-Agyemang went on to applaud the medical team at the 37 Military Hospital for their swift and timely intervention following the incident and the emergency staff for their professionalism and dedication.

She noted that their timely response was crucial in saving the lives of the victims, particularly those who were in critical condition.

“We are deeply grateful for the tireless work of the medical team. Their commitment at this very difficult moment has been truly commendable,” she said.

The Vice President further extended her thoughts and prayers to all injured persons and their families, reiterating that the nation stands with them as investigations into the tragic event continue.

Authorities are expected to provide an update on the ongoing inquiry in the coming days.

The Minority in Parliament, thus the members of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), have ordered the release of the report on the cause of the stampede that occurred during the recruitment screening by the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) on the morning of Wednesday, November 12, in Accra.

It all started when thousands of Ghanaian youth hoping to gain entry into the military thronged the stadium in the early hours of Wednesday. However, even before the screening exercise could begin, the unfortunate happened when a surge of applicants breached security protocols and rushed toward the gates.

The uncontrolled crowd movement caused people to fall and be trampled, resulting in fatalities and multiple injuries.

In a swift response, the government set up a Board of Inquiry to probe the El-Wak Stadium stampede. The Defence and Interior Committee of Parliament, chaired by Hon. James Agalga, has announced it will conduct its own probe into the incident.

Speaker Alban Bagbin directed the committee to take a keen interest in the investigations, ensuring accountability and transparency.

In reaction to this, the leader of the Minority Caucus in Parliament, Alexander Afenyo Markin, in a two-page statement, has demanded that the committee present the findings within fourteen (14) days.

“We note that the Ghana Armed Forces has initiated a preliminary enquiry. However, we demand that this investigation be independent, thorough, and time-bound, with findings made public within fourteen (14) days. The families of the deceased and the nation deserve transparency, not bureaucratic opacity”, parts of the statement read.

Following the incident, several suggestions have been made to the government, including the modernisation of the process using technology and the screening exercise done in batches and spread across the days of the week.

Consequently, part of the four demands listed in the statement also charge the government to provide “a clear timeline for implementing corrective measures” as well as settle the affected families as far as compensation is concerned, calling for an immediate suspension of the exercise.

“All ongoing recruitment exercises should be halted immediately until adequate crowd management protocols, emergency response systems, and venue safety standards are verifiably in place. Compensation and support for the families of the deceased and those injured”, the statement noted..

They also called on the country’s national defence force to assure the public that there would not be a recurrence of such an incident again in the history of Ghana. The Minority said, “A commitment from the Ghana Armed Forces and relevant government agencies that such a tragedy will never recur.

Just hours after the El-Wak tragedy, reports confirmed a stampede at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium during the same Ghana Armed Forces recruitment exercise, leaving at least five applicants injured and hospitalised. The cause, according to reports, is similar to what happened in Accra: overcrowding and poor crowd control. One person was reported to be in a critical condition and receiving treatment at the Emena Hospital in Oforikrom Municipality, according to reports, while four others are at the Ashanti South Government Hospital for treatment.

In the latest development, the Member of Parliament representing the Ketu North Constituency has announced on X (formerly Twitter) that "Deputy Defence Minister Brogya Genfi has stated that all personnel responsible for the screening process during the military recruitment have been asked to step aside while official investigations into the stampede are conducted".

Meanwhile, President Mahama paid a visit to applicants who had been hospitalised at the 37 Military Hospital from the stampede hours after the incident ahead of his trip to Kumasi for the launch of one of his flagship policies, “Nkoko Nketenkete” programme in Kumasi on Wednesday.

Delivering a speech at the launch, he confirmed that all the fatalities recorded linked to the stampede at El-Wak were females. The President described the incident as “a heartbreaking loss for the entire nation,” while extending his condolences to the bereaved families.

According to him, “The tragic news is that I have been informed by the military that six young women, who simply sought an opportunity to serve their nation, lost their lives in this heartbreaking incident. We are praying for the 12 others who remain in critical condition.”

He also took to his official X (formerly Twitter) to express his condolences to the families of the applicants who lost their lives in the stampede.

He said, “I visited the 37 military hospital this afternoon to check on our young men and women who were injured earlier this morning following a stampede at the Elwak Stadium recruitment centre, where thousands of potential military recruits had gathered for a selection exercise. Lordina and I wish all the injured a speedy recovery, and our condolences to the families of those who lost their lives as a result of the stampede.”