Kofi Tonto is a Spokesperson for former Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia
Deputy Spokesperson to former Vice President Dr Mahamudu Bawumia, Kofi Tonto, has called on the government and the Ghana Armed Forces to refund all fees paid by applicants following the tragic stampede at the El-Wak Sports Stadium in Accra.
Speaking on Metro TV’s Good Morning Ghana on November 13, 2025, Tonto described it as unfair to charge young people GH¢200 for military recruitment, especially when only about 1,000 out of 90,000 applicants are likely to be selected.
He noted that applicants typically spend between GH¢500 and GH¢600, including printing, transportation, and food, for a process with extremely low chances of success.
What we know so far about deadly military recruitment stampede
“We don’t need to charge already burdened young people GH¢200, and they still have to spend on printing, transportation and food. On average, each applicant spends between GH¢500 and GH¢600 or more just to have a chance at something they don’t even have a chance at,” Tonto said.
He proposed two possible remedies: refund all application fees to provide relief to every applicant, or use the total amount collected estimated at GH¢32 million to compensate families of those who died or were injured in the stampede.
“If not, then the total amount collected should be given to the families of the deceased and the injured,” he indicated.
Tonto also echoed the late Dr Edward Omane Boamah’s call for modernising the Ghana Armed Forces’ recruitment process.
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“The military cannot continue to rely on outdated body selection and fitness tests from years ago,” he said, adding that updating the process would honor the late minister’s legacy.
The recruitment exercise on Wednesday, November 12, 2025, led to the death of six people, as a result of a stampede, and 28 others injured.
Five victims are reported to be in critical conditions at the 37 Military Hospital, while 12 others are receiving serious treatment.
MRA/JE
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