Gender
Bravery in the face of fear: The struggle of women at recruitment grounds
For many young women who gathered at last week’s military recruitment exercise, the day was supposed to mark the beginning of a long-awaited dream built on discipline, sacrifice, and the quiet determination to prove that women too can serve, protect, and rise through the ranks of the Ghana Armed Forces. But that dream was shattered when tragedy struck.
Among the crowd were young women who had travelled from distant towns, some clutching envelopes of documents, others holding on to borrowed hope and borrowed money. Many had always believed that the Ghana Armed Forces was one of the few institutions that did not discriminate against their gender. They joined thousands of hopefuls, standing shoulder-to-shoulder under the burning sun, anticipation tightening their chests.
Yet, for six of these young women, the day ended in the unthinkable. They lost their lives in the stampede at El-Wak Sports Stadium, a devastating blow to families, friends, and the nation. Their deaths have left a permanent scar on the dreams they carried and on the community that watched helplessly as hope collided with chaos.
Women caught in the chaos later recounted how panic surged through the crowd. Some were pushed off balance, others struggled to breathe, and a few held on desperately to friends so they would not be swallowed by the moving wave of bodies. Their voices trembled not only from shock but from the fear they had long carried within—the fear of being unseen, unheard, and unprotected.
Unlike their male counterparts, who often approach recruitment with the boldness society readily grants them, many women arrive at such exercises already battling stereotypes. They must first win the silent argument that they belong there. The tragedy, therefore, did not only claim lives and injuries; it magnified the fears women carry even before they step through the recruitment gates.
For some, the military represented their only escape from unemployment and the frustrations of being a young woman seeking stable work in Ghana. That is why they endured the heat, the long queues, and the packed grounds because the uniform symbolized fairness, dignity, and a chance to rewrite their stories.
As families mourn and survivors nurse their wounds, one truth stands out: women’s aspirations must be protected with the same seriousness afforded their male peers. Their courage to defy gender norms should be met with proper safety measures, clear organisation, and a recruitment environment that does not put them at unnecessary risk.
The tragedy has reminded the nation that behind every applicant is a story of sacrifice, hope, family expectations, and for many women, the desire to claim space in fields traditionally reserved for men. These human stories should guide future reforms, and for that reason, gender-sensitive policies must no longer be an afterthought.
It is against this backdrop that the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) on Monday announced the resumption of its 2025/2026 recruitment exercise in the Greater Accra Region, following the temporary suspension after the stampede on Wednesday, November 12, at the El-Wak Sports Stadium.
In a statement cited by The Spectator and signed by the Acting Director General of Public Relations, Captain (Ghana Navy) Veronica Adzo Arhin, GAF explained that the reinstated process will now take place across eight sub-centres. These include the El-Wak Stadium and Nicholson Park at Burma Camp, which will each have two centres. The Air Force Base at Burma Camp and the Training and Doctrine Command (TRADOC) at Teshie will also each host two centres, while the Eastern Naval Command in Tema will have one.
To ensure smooth screening and reduce congestion, applicants will report in batches of 600, with each individual receiving an SMS specifying their reporting date, batch number, and designated centre.
Even with the revised measures, one concern remains: women’s safety in crowded public spaces must be intentionally prioritised, not assumed under the banner of military discipline. Clearer communication, structured queuing systems, better crowd control, constant medical presence, and trained crisis responders are not luxuries—they are necessities.
Beyond logistics, there must also be recognition that women’s experiences of fear, vulnerability, and danger differ from men—not because they are weaker, but because society has conditioned the environment to be harsher toward them. For every female applicant to any of the security services, there is a story of resistance against stereotypes, limited opportunities, whispered doubts, and unspoken fears.
These stories must shape the reforms that follow, ensuring that young women can pursue the uniform not with fear, but with confidence and dignity. And as the nation continues to mourn the six young women whose lives were lost, the hope remains that lessons learned from this tragedy will safeguard the dreams of those who step forward next, so their courage is met with the order, protection, and respect it deserves.
By Esinam Jemima Kuatsinu
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Nana Oye Bampoe Addo, a Deputy Chief of Staff, has called for sustained legal and institutional reforms to address gender biases within Ghana’s justice system.
She urged women lawyers to build on the legacy of trailblazers who have shaped the country’s legal landscape.
Madam Bampoe Addo made the call at the maiden Biennial Conference of the Ghana Bar Association (GBA) Women’s Forum, organised in collaboration with the Ghana School of Law in Accra on Tuesday.
The event was on the theme: “The role of women lawyers in national development: honouring trailblazers.”
Madam Bampoe Addo said the progress made by women in the legal profession was not accidental but the result of years of struggle, sacrifice and determination.
She paid tribute to early trailblazers such as Matilda Foster and Annie Jiagge, saying their achievements broke barriers and opened doors for generations of women lawyers.
She commended the contributions of female judicial leaders, including Mrs Georgina Theodora Wood, Mrs Sophia Akuffo, and Mrs Gertrude Torkornoo, whose leadership reflected the growing influence of women in Ghana’s judiciary.
Women lawyers had made significant contributions across multiple sectors, including the courtroom, academia, policy development, civil society advocacy and community engagement.
Madam Bampoe Addo noted that their efforts had advanced gender equality, strengthened institutions and improved access to justice in the country.
She expressed concern about the persistent gender biases within the justice system, particularly in some judicial pronouncements that could undermine the dignity of women.
The courts, she noted, must not only deliver justice but must also communicate it in a manner that upheld respect and fairness for all parties.
“There is undervaluation of women’s unpaid domestic labour, including caregiving responsibilities, which are often overlooked in legal determinations, especially in matrimonial cases,” she added.
She called for a more progressive and context-sensitive approach to adjudication, drawing on comparative jurisprudence from other jurisdictions to ensure fairness and equity.
Madam Bampoe Addo urged legal practitioners and judges to build on progressive legal precedents and ensure that Ghana’s legal system evolved to reflect contemporary social realities.
She emphasised the importance of mentorship and inclusivity, encouraging women in leadership to create opportunities for others and support the next generation of female lawyers.
She called on young women to pursue legal careers with confidence, adding that the profession offered vast opportunities to contribute to national development.
Commissioner of Police (COP) Lydia Donkor, the Director-General of CID, said women lawyers played indispensable roles in shaping Ghana’s legal and governance systems.
They had excelled in various fields and occupied key leadership positions, contributing to policy reforms and championing justice for vulnerable groups, she added.
COP Donkor paid tribute to trailblazing women lawyers whose achievements continued to inspire and motivate younger generations to strive for excellence.
She urged students and young practitioners to go beyond academic successes and embrace the broader mission of promoting justice, fairness and societal transformation.
She encouraged more women lawyers to consider careers in the Ghana Police Service, describing law enforcement as a critical area where legal expertise was needed to strengthen justice delivery.
She commended the organisers of the conference for the success, saying it would encourage the next generation of women lawyers to continue to make significant contributions to Ghana’s development. – GNA
The Dzidula Pink Foundation has engaged expectant mothers on cervical cancer at a recent pregnancy clinic held at St Gregory Hospital, Budumburam in the Awutu Senya East District.
The engagement formed part of its advocacy on early cancer detection to safeguard maternal health.
It also formed part of the foundation’s broader mission to raise awareness about cancers affecting women, particularly at a time when many may be least likely to consider screening especially pregnancy and the postpartum period.
Addressing a gathering of pregnant women at the clinic, the president of the foundation, Ms Fafa Gozo, highlighted a worrying trend where a significant number of women are diagnosed with cancer around the time of delivery.
This, she noted, often results from delayed screening and limited awareness about the importance of early detection.
She educated the women about the need to prioritise their health by undertaking timely cancer screening, even while navigating the demands of pregnancy.
She reiterated that early detection remains one of the most effective ways to improve treatment outcomes and reduce mortality.
“Pregnancy should not be a reason to delay screening. In fact, it is a critical period where heightened awareness can save lives,” Ms Gozo said.
The engagement also created a platform for open dialogue, allowing the expectant mothers to ask questions, share concerns, and receive guidance from health professionals present at the clinic.
Health experts at the facility echoed the foundation’s message, underscoring that routine checks and screenings, when done early, can lead to timely interventions and better health outcomes for both mother and child.
By Esinam Jemima Kuatsinu
