In the wake of the tragic recruitment stampede at the El‑Wak Sports Stadium that claimed six lives and injured dozens, Minister for the Interior Muntaka Mohammed-Mubarak has laid out a detailed plan of action aimed at restoring public confidence and ensuring safer, fairer future enlistment exercises.
Speaking at a press briefing on Friday, November 14, the Minister began by emphasising the government’s commitment to transparency, accountability, fairness and dignity for all applicants.
“We will ensure that all applicants are treated with dignity and respect. And that the process is conducted in a fair and impartial manner,” he said.
The Minister urged eligible young Ghanaians to view the enlistment drive as an opportunity. “Young people… this is an opportunity to serve your country and make a difference in the lives of others,” he said, as he called for talented, dedicated and patriotic individuals to apply.
Addressing key process reforms, the Minister confirmed that:
• No service (such as the Ghana Prison Service, Ghana Immigration Service or Ghana National Fire Service) will run a heavy screening session alone without adequate logistics.
• Amenities will be improved: canopies, chairs, drinking water and shaded waiting areas will be provided so applicants are not “standing in the scorching sun”.
• Medical screenings, including drug tests, will form part of the process to weed out unfit candidates and protect standards.
On the question of annual or year-round recruitment, the Minister clarified government’s position: despite calls to open portals year-round to reduce congestion and back-logs, he said the logistics, training, capacity and established post limits render continuous recruitment impractical. It is “not a season 35”, he quipped.
Instead, the number of recruits must align with actual approved posts, medical and physical fitness outcomes.
The Minister also reaffirmed the government’s broader extract: that the recruitment portal will clearly publish criteria, and applicants must choose the correct category (professional, craftsman, etc.) before applying to avoid disqualification.
In a brief Q&A, questions were raised on compensation for victims of the stampede, and the Minister acknowledged the matter is being “looked into” but gave no definite commitment in the briefing.
In concluding remarks, the Minister vowed that “this process will go on very seamlessly”, and that in a month’s time the government expects to “report about the numbers and all those things” with no reason for regret.
