GAF recruitment stampede: 3 discharged from ICU, 16 still on admission
The Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) has issued a new update regarding the victims of the stampede that occurred last Wednesday at the El-Wak Sports Stadium, indicating notable improvement in the condition of those who sustained critical injuries.
The event, which took place during a military recruitment exercise, has resulted in the loss of six lives thus far.
In providing the most recent information, Captain Veronica Adzo Arhin, the Acting Director-General of the Department of Public Relations of the GAF, stated that three out of the five patients who were initially admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) have shown improvement and have since been moved to a different ward.
During an interview with Citi Eyewitness News on Monday, November 17, Captain Arhin elaborated that a total of 29 victims were admitted to the hospital on the day of the incident, and medical teams have been tirelessly working to stabilise them to prevent any further fatalities.
“The injured are doing well, they are at the hospital, and they are receiving the best of care. On the day of the incident, we had five people in the ICU. As we speak, three of them are doing well, and they have been moved to another ward,” she stated.
She also stated that while some injured individuals have been treated and released, 16 people are still hospitalised, receiving ongoing care and monitoring.
“On the day of the incident, 29 people were brought to the hospital. As we speak now, we have about 16 currently there. Others are all receiving care, some have been discharged, and they have gone home, and they are getting the best of care. We are praying that we do not lose another life, so we are giving them all the best that we can,” she added.
To alleviate the financial burden on families, Captain Arhin announced that the 37 Military Hospital will cover the full medical costs for all victims of the stampede, with assistance from the government.
“37 Hospital is taking the full bill of anybody that comes there with any form of accident related to the stampede, and for that matter, the government,” she added.
It would be recalled that on Wednesday, November 12, a stampede occurred when thousands of young Ghanaians rushed to the El-Wak Sports Stadium to participate in the military recruitment process.
The overwhelming crowd and the intense pushing at the entry points caused chaos, resulting in multiple injuries and six deaths.