YEFL-Ghana calls for safer recruitment processes following El-Wak Stadium tragedy

YEFL Ghana, an NGO, has extended its deepest condolences to the families and loved ones of the six young Ghanaians, who lost their lives during the Ghana Armed Forces recruitment exercise at the El-Wak Sports Stadium in Accra on Wednesday, November 12, 2025.

In a statement issued and signed by Mr Mahama Aminu, its Head of Programmes and copied to the Ghana News Agency in Tamale, the organization also sympathized with those, who sustained injuries and the many young people, who witnessed the tragic incident.

The statement described it as “A painful reminder of the challenges many young Ghanaians face in their search for decent and dignified work.”

It said the tragedy was not merely an unfortunate accident but reflected the deepening youth unemployment crisis in Ghana.

The statement acknowledged the government’s ongoing efforts to address youth unemployment through the establishment of the Ministry of Youth Development and Empowerment and initiatives such as the National Apprenticeship Programme, also known as Adwumawura.

It noted that while those interventions demonstrated commitment to youth development, their scale and impact did not match the magnitude of the unemployment challenge confronting the country’s youth.

It said the limited availability of employment opportunities had contributed to the overwhelming turnout at security service recruitment centres where thousands of young people viewed such opportunities as one of the few pathways to economic stability.

It urged government to review the current approach to mass military recruitment and adopt a phased, technology-driven process that ensured safety, fairness, and transparency.

The statement also recommended the decentralization of future recruitment exercises to sub-regional levels to better manage large crowds and prevent similar tragedies.

It said “Implementing these measures is essential but they must be accompanied by broader, long-term actions to tackle the root causes of youth unemployment.”

It said the El-Wak tragedy should serve as a national wake-up call to prioritize youth employment and empowerment as a matter of urgency.

Source: GNA