Ghana Police Recruitment: See the Game-Changing Reforms Following El Wak Deaths
- The Ministry of Interior has announced some reforms to the recruitment process for security personnel
- The reforms are in response to the stampede during the military recruitment exercise at the El Wak Stadium in Accra
- The stampede killed six and prompted widespread concern about the security recruitment processes in Ghana
Minister of Interior Muntaka Mubarak has unveiled contingency measures that place to better manage the recruitment exercises for the interior security services.
The key measures are to ensure that there is no overcrowding at the centres.
Source: Facebook
Among the key changes announced:
- Each recruitment centre will be limited to 500–1,000 candidates per day, regardless of size or capacity, to avoid overcrowding and the associated risks of stampede, disease transmission and chaos.
- There will be multiple entry gates, clearly designated screening tables, and time-slots will be used to manage flow. Even large complexes with 40 gates must adhere to the cap.
- Applicants will be more comfortable: waiting areas with chairs, canopy cover, water distribution (with the partnership of the Ghana Prison Service) and shade will be provided so that candidates are not simply herded and left standing outdoors.
- Screening days for different services will be deliberately staggered. For example, in one region, the police may screen 3,000, prisons 500, immigration 300, others 200 thus avoiding a mega-centre handling all services in a crush.
In the meantime, the government postponed the nationwide interior security services recruitment exercise from Saturday, November 15, to Monday, November 17.
Mubarak said an updated schedule is expected to be published in the national newspapers, on official social media platforms, and through the appropriate ministries and agencies.
The minister also announced that the recruitment process will now be conducted online, from start to finish.
About the El Wak stampede
The stampede on November 12 led to the death of 6 and injuries to over 20.
Twelve people were in critical condition, while five received treatment in the Intensive Care Unit. A separate recruitment exercise in Kumasi also recorded five injuries.
The army blamed the incident on the breach by applicants who allegedly breached security protocols.
Thousands of applicants had moved to the stadium as part of the body selection process for recruitment.
The army stated that preliminary investigations indicate the stampede was triggered by an unexpected surge of applicants who breached security protocols and rushed into the gates ahead of the scheduled screening.
Source: Facebook
Senior military officers who supervised the recruitment exercise have been asked to step aside.
Joy News reported that new commanders have been appointed to take over the recruitment process once it resumes, as part of the steps to ensure transparency and preserve the integrity of the ongoing probe.
Ntim Fordjour calls for Army recruitment suspension
YEN.com.gh reported that the Assin South MP John Ntim Fordjour called for the army's recruitment exercise to be suspended nationwide because of the deaths and injuries.
The government has since only suspended the exercise in the Greater Accra Region despite other safety incidents occurring outside of Accra.
The MP called for better measures to ensure the safety of potential recruits.
Source: YEN.com.gh
