Ghana’s Parliamentary Committee on Defence and Interior, led by its Chairman, James Agalga, visited injured victims of the El-Wak Stadium stampede at the 37 Military Hospital today, following a directive from the Speaker of Parliament to investigate the tragic incident. The visit comes after two statements addressing the stampede were read on the floor of Parliament by Minority Chief Whip Frank Annoh Dompreh and Hon. Edem Agbana, highlighting the urgent need for parliamentary intervention.
Chairman Agalga confirmed the committee’s presence was in pursuit of the Speaker’s directive to “look into the matter whether in a form of probe or investigation.” He stressed that the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) has already established a board of enquiry to ascertain the cause of the incident and assured the victims that Parliament is deeply concerned about their welfare and will roll out measures to prevent such tragic occurrences in the future.
Adding to the call for action, Ntim Fordjour, the Ranking Member of the Committee, sympathized with the victims and their families and appealed for the matter to be kept free from political interference. He stated that the committee will investigate the issue “objectively and offer constructive recommendations.” Crucially, he appealed to the government to “put to a halt or suspended” all nationwide recruitment exercises until “optimal measures” are put in place to safeguard the lives of potential recruits.
Fordjour also called for adequate compensation for the families of those who lost their lives and urged the GAF to prioritize medically fit recovering victims in future recruitment drives. He concluded by assuring that the Committee would support the GAF and the Ministry of Defence in implementing the necessary safety measures.
