By Legendreport.com News Desk
Public Affairs Commentator, Andrew Aboagye, has called for a complete restructuring of Ghana’s military recruitment process following the tragic stampede that occurred at the El Wak Sports Stadium on November 12, 2025, leaving several applicants injured and traumatized.
According to Mr. Aboagye, the incident should serve as a national wake-up call to overhaul how recruitment exercises are conducted for the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF). He emphasized that the current system — where thousands of hopeful applicants gather at a single venue for physical screening and documentation — poses serious safety risks and undermines the discipline and efficiency associated with the military.
He proposed a corps-based and regional recruitment model, which would see applicants invited in smaller, organized groups based on their chosen corps, such as the Infantry, Engineers, Education Corps, Military Police, or Bandsmen. This, he explained, would help reduce overcrowding, prevent stampedes, and ensure a more thorough and fair assessment of candidates.
Mr. Aboagye further recommended that the Armed Forces adopt digital pre-screening and scheduling systems, allowing applicants to receive electronic invitations indicating specific dates, corps categories, and regional centers for their selection process. Such an approach, he noted, would promote transparency, improve coordination, and ensure the safety and dignity of all participants.
He stressed that the El Wak tragedy must not be allowed to recur, urging the Ministry of Defence and the Ghana Armed Forces High Command to act swiftly in reviewing and modernizing their recruitment procedures.
Mr. Aboagye concluded that reforming the current system is not just about efficiency but about protecting lives and safeguarding the reputation of the Ghana Armed Forces as a disciplined and well-organized national institution.
