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March 19, 2026
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ABAN Brief: Six people died at El-Wak. Four months later, Ghana is still waiting for answers
Money
Policy
Opportunity
Key Points
- Six young Ghanaian women died and 28 were injured in a crowd crush at El-Wak Sports Stadium during a security services recruitment physical screening in November 2025.
- A Board of Inquiry was established, but its findings have not been made public four months after the incident.
- The incident stemmed from over 506,000 applicants vying for 5,000 positions, leading to an unsafe convergence at a single venue without proper crowd control or safety measures.
- The Ghana Armed Forces continued recruitment, including survivors, but critics argue accountability for the tragedy remains unaddressed.
- The ABAN Center for Global Policy demands the immediate release of the inquiry report, implementation of strict new safety protocols for future recruitment exercises, and formal compensation for victims' families.
Why This Matters
This incident highlights critical issues of public safety, state accountability, and governance in Ghana, particularly concerning the management of large public events and access to employment. Failure to transparently investigate and implement robust safety protocols erodes public trust and endangers citizens, especially in a context of high youth unemployment where such recruitment drives attract massive crowds, underscoring systemic policy failures.
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