Japhet Festus Gbede, the Assemblyman for Wuxor-Have-Sremanu Constituency in the Volta region has expressed deep sorrow and outrage over the tragic deaths of several young Ghanaians who lost their lives during the ongoing Ghana Armed Forces recruitment exercise, describing the incident as a national shame and an avoidable disaster.
In a strongly worded statement issued on Wednesday, November 12, 2025 Gbede said it was heartbreaking that vibrant and promising citizens, who merely sought legitimate employment opportunities, had their dreams cut short under circumstances that could have been prevented.
“It is with a heavy heart and deep sense of national sorrow that I react to this heartbreaking incident. These were vibrant young men and women who stepped out in search of legitimate employment opportunities, not knowing their quest for service would end in such a painful and avoidable tragedy,” he stated.
The outspoken communicator lamented that the Ghana Armed Forces, an institution revered for discipline and professionalism had failed the nation by allowing such a catastrophe to occur under its supervision.
“The Ghana Armed Forces, one of our most respected state institutions, must bow its head in shame for allowing this catastrophe to happen under its watch.
“In this age of technology and advanced security management, no excuse can justify the loss of lives during a recruitment process. This is a failure of planning, foresight, and duty of care,” he stressed.
Gbede questioned why the Armed Forces continued to conduct mass recruitment activities in overcrowded stadiums when the country boasts numerous astro turfs, colleges of education and public facilities that could safely accommodate the process across various regions.
“What prevents the Armed Forces from decentralizing their body selection and documentation processes across the country instead of herding thousands of desperate applicants into limited stadium spaces?” he asked.
“What then is the essence of the numerous astro turfs scattered across the country? This tragedy was not inevitable; it was preventable.”
Calling for immediate reform, Gbede urged the Ghana Armed Forces to take full responsibility and review its recruitment protocols to align with modern safety and crowd management standards, emphasising that Ghana must not continue to lose its young talents to negligence.
The statement also extended heartfelt condolences to the bereaved families, describing the victims as national heroes who died in pursuit of a noble dream.
“To the bereaved families, I extend my deepest condolences. Your sons and daughters died pursuing a noble dream a dream to serve and protect our beloved nation. Their sacrifice must never be forgotten,” he said.
He further joined calls from well-meaning Ghanaians for the victims to be honored and celebrated, just as the nation did for the helicopter crash victims, stressing that “they, too, served Ghana in their own way and their memories must be treated with dignity.”
Japhet Gbede concluded with a passionate call for accountability and justice, insisting that this tragedy must not fade away like many others before it.
“Let this not be another story that fades away with time. Let accountability be pursued, reforms implemented and justice served. Only then can we truly honour their memory.”
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