Prosper Agbenyega, Editor of Current Issues Newspaper, has strongly condemned the Member of Parliament for Pusiga, Laadi Ayii Ayamba, over what he described as an “insensitive and unfortunate” comment on the tragic El-Wak Sports Stadium recruitment stampede that claimed six lives.
Speaking after the MP’s statement on the floor of Parliament — where she described the incident as something “ordained by Allah” — Mr. Agbenyega said such remarks were highly inappropriate and disrespectful to the victims and their grieving families.
“It is unacceptable for a Member of Parliament to suggest that this tragedy was preordained by God,” Mr. Agbenyega stated. “This was not an act of divine will; it was the result of human negligence, poor planning, and the failure of state institutions to ensure safety during a public recruitment exercise.”
He added that the MP’s statement was an attempt to “spiritualise irresponsibility” and divert attention from the urgent need for accountability following the disaster.
He argues that while faith can provide comfort in times of tragedy, the MP’s remarks fail to acknowledge the institutional negligence and poor crowd management that contributed to the fatal incident.
He describes the MP’s comments as “reckless and dismissive of state accountability.”
Several social media users have also expressed anger, with many calling her statement “tone-deaf” and “an insult to the memory of the victims.”
“When leaders make comments like these, they shift the focus from justice and reform to resignation and fatalism. Ghana deserves leaders who take responsibility and demand answers, not those who hide behind religion to excuse incompetence,” he emphasised.
The tragedy, which occurred on Wednesday, November 12, 2025, left six female applicants dead and several others critically injured during a Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) recruitment exercise at the El-Wak Sports Stadium in Accra. Thousands of young Ghanaians had gathered at the venue hoping to be enlisted into the Armed Forces when a stampede broke out due to overcrowding and poor crowd control.
Mr. Agbenyega urged Parliament to call Madam Ayamba to order and reminded public officials that their words carry weight, especially in times of national mourning.
“Leadership requires empathy and sensitivity. When lives are lost due to systemic failure, our duty is to demand reforms and justice — not to spiritualise tragedy,” he said.
He also called on the Ghana Armed Forces and the Ministry of Defence to publish the findings of their internal investigation and ensure that those responsible for the lapses are held accountable.
“The lives lost at El-Wak must not be in vain. This incident should mark a turning point in how public recruitment exercises are organised and how our leaders respond to human suffering,” Mr. Agbenyega concluded.
