Mahama Offers Replacement Enlistment Opportunity to Families of Victims of El Wak Recruitment Stampede

Deputy Minister for Defence, Ernest Brogya Genfi, has revealed a significant humanitarian gesture by President John Dramani Mahama following the tragic military recruitment stampede at the El Wak Sports Stadium. The incident, which claimed the lives of several young prospective recruits and left dozens injured, has left many families devastated and demanding answers. In response, President Mahama has offered the affected families a rare opportunity: the option to present a replacement candidate for enlistment into the Ghana Armed Forces.

This compassionate intervention is intended to ease the emotional and economic burden placed on families whose children died while seeking the chance to serve their country. According to Brogya Genfi, the President’s decision was borne out of deep concern for the welfare of the bereaved families, many of whom invested time, resources, and hope into their children’s future careers in the military.

The Defence Minister explained that the government has been engaging directly with the affected families since the incident. Brogya Genfi, together with the Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection, Agnes Naa Momo Lartey, earlier visited some of the bereaved families, including that of Yvonne Amoateng — one of the young women who tragically lost her life during the chaotic stampede. The visit, he said, was not only to express condolences but also to listen to their concerns and offer immediate support.

The stampede, which occurred during the Ghana Armed Forces recruitment exercise, has triggered widespread public discussion on crowd control, recruitment procedures, and emergency preparedness. Eyewitnesses described scenes of panic as large numbers of applicants pushed through entry points, leading to deadly congestion. Security analysts and civil society groups have since called for a comprehensive review of the GAF recruitment process to prevent future tragedies.

In the wake of the incident, President Mahama directed the Defence Ministry and the Military High Command to investigate the circumstances surrounding the stampede and improve safety protocols. While this process continues, the replacement enlistment offer is expected to bring some measure of relief to the grieving families. Brogya Genfi emphasized that the gesture is not meant to replace the lives lost but to acknowledge the dreams and aspirations the deceased held—dreams their families still cherish.

Families who choose to accept the opportunity will be allowed to put forward a qualified relative to take the place of the deceased in the next available military intake. This is expected to comfort households that counted on the potential military career of their loved ones for future stability and upward mobility.

Many Ghanaians have praised the President’s intervention as compassionate and timely, while others have called for broader systemic reforms within the recruitment process. For now, the focus remains on supporting the families, improving safety procedures, and ensuring such a tragedy never occurs again.

President Mahama’s gesture marks one of the strongest acknowledgments yet of the pain endured by the affected families and underscores the government’s commitment to standing with citizens during their hardest moments.