CUTS International calls for stricter safety laws after El-Wak tragedy
Policy think tank CUTS International Accra has urged Parliament to amend the Public Order Act, 1994 (Act 491), to include stronger health and safety requirements for public event organisers, following the deadly stampede at El-Wak Stadium during a military recruitment exercise.
The incident claimed six lives, left five in intensive care, and 12 in critical condition, reigniting concerns about Ghana’s crowd management and emergency preparedness.
In a statement, West Africa Regional Director Mr. Appiah Kusi Adomako expressed deep sadness over the tragedy, calling it a stark reminder of weak institutional systems.
“This tragedy exposes Ghana’s poor preparedness and lack of effective crowd control,” he said.
“From churches and funerals to schools and job recruitments, large gatherings continue to occur in unsafe spaces without proper safety protocols or emergency exits.”
CUTS called for a proactive approach to public safety rather than waiting for disasters to trigger reforms.
Citing international examples, the organisation noted that countries like the UK and India have enacted strong safety laws requiring organisers to meet clear standards before hosting large events.
CUTS proposed that Parliament expand the definition of “special events” to include religious, social, and sporting gatherings, empower the Police and Metropolitan, Municipal, and District Assemblies (MMDAs) to enforce safety standards, mandate organisers to ensure multiple exits, fire systems, and evacuation drills before approval, and close venues that fail to meet safety requirements.
The organisation also recommended adopting digital booking systems across public institutions to reduce overcrowding, citing the Passport Office appointment model as a successful example, and stressed that organisers and institutions that fail to ensure safety should face administrative or legal sanctions.
“Public safety must not depend on chance or sympathy after a tragedy,” the statement said. “Citizens deserve safe, efficient, and respectful service.
Respect for time and safety is a fundamental consumer right.”
Mr. Adomako urged the government to develop a National Policy on Crowd Management, Emergency Preparedness, and Service Efficiency, emphasising that the lives lost at El-Wak must not be in vain.
“We should not wait for another tragedy before acting. The lives lost in preventable situations are the price of regulatory and institutional neglect,” he said.