Speaker Bagbin calls for urgent appointment of a substantive Defence Minister

Speaker of Parliament, Alban Bagbin, has called for the urgent appointment of a substantive Defence Minister to steer the affairs of the ministry.

According to Speaker Bagbin, while the acting Defence Minister, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, is capable, the pressures on the office necessitate a permanent appointment.

“I will direct our committee to follow up on the process and emphasize what others have said, to expedite the appointment of a substantive minister.

“It’s not because the current acting minister is not capable, but we know the pressures on him, and we need someone who can provide full reports and address some of the issues you’ve raised,” he explained.

He said this on the floor of Parliament on Wednesday when Members of Parliament made statements on the tragic stampede that occurred during the Ghana Armed Forces recruitment exercise at the El-Wak Sports Stadium.

The Speaker also highlighted concerns about the recruitment and enlistment processes in the Ghana Armed Forces, saying, “What prevents this country from having a continuous recruitment or enlistment process?

“We don’t have to wait and do it once every year or sometimes two years, causing a backlog that leads to rushed processes and tragic outcomes. With your support, the Committee on Defence and Interior should follow up on this matter. Later, you can schedule a date to present a full brief from the committee and the minister, as civil society is actively debating this issue, and many proposals have been put forward.”

Reports indicate that the recruitment exercise, which drew thousands of applicants across the country, turned chaotic at some centres, leading to stampedes and injuries. In Kumasi and Accra, several young people reportedly collapsed while attempting to enter overcrowded venues.

The GAF clarified that the death toll from the tragic incident at El-Wak Sports Stadium this Wednesday, November 12, remains at six, urging the public to disregard any false or unverified reports circulating about the event.