The tragic El-Wak stampede, which occurred on November 12, 2025, during a military recruitment exercise, has sparked national outrage, underscoring challenges in public administration and disaster preparedness. The incident claimed the lives of six females and left over ten others injured, with some remaining in critical condition at the 37 Military Hospital.

Addressing delegates of the Christian Council of Ghana on November 18, 2025, President John Dramani Mahama described the tragedy as “avoidable”. He stressed the urgent need for transparent planning in recruitment processes, noting that secrecy and sudden announcements had turned promising opportunities into dangerous situations. President Mahama contrasted this with his administration’s campaign for equitable and structured recruitment, which included advance announcements, regional exercises, and basic qualification checks. However, overcrowding issues persisted, particularly in Ashanti and Greater Accra regions. At El-Wak Stadium, limited entrances proved insufficient for the large number of applicants, prompting Mahama to call for exercise suspension and plan review once crowding became apparent.

In response, authorities have introduced daily applicant caps and will utilize multiple venues to prevent future stampedes, aiming to safeguard candidates during screening processes.

Complementing government efforts, the insurance industry, led by Commissioner of Insurance Dr. Abiba Zakariah, contributed GH¢100,000 to the 37 Military Hospital to support the medical care of stampede victims. During the presentation, Dr. Zakariah emphasized the sector’s commitment to national support, life protection, and social responsibility, describing the donation as part of broader collaboration during national distress.

Furthermore, Dr. Zakariah announced the creation of a National Insurance Disaster Fund, designed to provide structured, sustainable support during future crises. Funded by a percentage of net profits from all policies underwritten by the sector, the fund’s framework is expected to be finalized by year-end, with a planned launch next year.

The donation was a collaborative effort from key industry bodies, including the National Insurance Commission (NIC), Ghana Insurers Association (GIA), Insurance Brokers Association of Ghana (IBAG), Chartered Insurance Institute of Ghana (CIIG), Ghana Insurance College, and the Ghana National Bureau of the ECOWAS Brown Card Insurance Scheme.

Commodore Seth Adjei Adjetey, Head of the Surgical Department at 37 Military Hospital, expressed profound gratitude, highlighting the timeliness of the support. He assured the public that the funds would be used judiciously to enhance ICU, emergency, and general ward care, aiding the recovery process of all injured victims.