The Speaker of Parliament, Alban Sumana Kingsford Bagbin, has directed the Parliamentary Committee on Defence and Interior to expedite the process of appointing a substantive Minister for Defence.
According to the Speaker, while the acting Minister, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, has demonstrated competence, the demands of the Defence Ministry require a permanent officeholder to ensure effective oversight and coordination.
“I will direct our committee to follow up on the process and emphasize what others have said—to expedite the appointment of a substantive minister. It’s not because the current acting minister is not capable, but we know the pressures on him, and we need someone who can provide full reports and address some of the issues you’ve raised,” Bagbin stated.
He made these remarks on the floor of Parliament on Wednesday after Members of Parliament delivered statements regarding the tragic stampede that occurred during the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) recruitment exercise at the El-Wak Sports Stadium in Accra.
Speaker Bagbin also raised concerns about the structure of the military recruitment and enlistment process, calling for a more continuous system to avoid overcrowding and prevent similar tragedies.
“What prevents this country from having a continuous recruitment or enlistment process? We don’t have to wait and do it once every year or sometimes every two years, creating a backlog that leads to rushed processes and tragic outcomes,” he queried.
He charged the Defence and Interior Committee to engage further on the matter and provide a comprehensive report to Parliament.
“With your support, the Committee on Defence and Interior should follow up on this matter. Later, you can schedule a date to present a full brief from the committee and the minister, as civil society is actively debating this issue, and many proposals have been put forward,” he added.
Reports indicate that the recruitment exercise, which attracted thousands of applicants nationwide, turned chaotic at several centres, leading to stampedes and injuries. In Kumasi and Accra, several young people reportedly collapsed while attempting to enter overcrowded venues.
The Ghana Armed Forces has since clarified that the death toll from Wednesday’s tragic incident at the El-Wak Sports Stadium stands at six and urged the public to disregard any false or unverified reports circulating about the event.