Nana Kwame Bediako, also known as Cheddar, a businessman and political leader, has reacted to the tragic deaths of six young Ghanaians at EL-Wak during the Ghana Armed Forces recruitment exercise.
According to Chadder, Ghana’s youth are not dying because of misfortune, but are dying because of neglect.
He highlighted that once again, tragedy strikes where there should have been hope for the Ghanaian youths.
Nana Kwame Bediako fumes that his blood boils when he sees headlines like the EL-Wak tragedy.
In a statement posted on X on November 12, 2025, Bediako wrote, “Once again, tragedy strikes where there should have been hope. Six young lives have been lost and dozens more injured following a stampede during the Ghana Armed Forces recruitment exercise. These were ambitious youth, desperate for a chance to serve their country and secure a livelihood in a nation that has too often failed to provide either.
My blood boils when I see headlines like this. Year after year, we mourn similar incidents, and yet, nothing changes. The truth is glaring: Ghana’s youth are not dying because of misfortune,they are dying because of neglect”.
He added, “While thousands scramble for a handful of military positions, governments past and present busily sign away our nation’s precious natural resources, such as lithium, for pennies in royalties. How can a nation so rich in minerals, talent, and opportunity continue to act so poorly in foresight and leadership?
Instead of building industries and refining our own resources, we allow others to extract, process, and profit, leaving us with scraps in return. If Ghana were truly committed to industrialising and adding value locally, the youth would not be stampeding at recruitment centres; they would be working in factories, research labs, and technology hubs powered by Ghanaian ingenuity”.
Nana Kwame Bediako further noted that the tragic incident exposes the deeper crisis of governance.
He added, “This tragic incident exposes more than just poor planning. It reveals a deeper crisis of governance. The organisers of this recruitment exercise clearly failed to consider safety protocols or crowd management measures, despite knowing the overwhelming unemployment that plagues our young population. Such disregard for human life is unacceptable and unforgivable”.
According to Cheddar, it’s time Ghana confront the uncomfortable truth that leaders are more focused on scoring political points.
“It is time we confront the uncomfortable truth: our leaders are more focused on scoring political points than on building a sustainable future. True leadership is not about ribbon-cuttings and headlines; it is about foresight, accountability, and a genuine commitment to national development.
The Twelve Pillars I gave represent the clarity, courage, and vision that Ghana desperately needs. It was a blueprint for self-reliance, industrialization, and national dignity. These principles are the gateway to our freedom.
The youth of Ghana deserve more than empty promises and preventable tragedies. They deserve jobs, dignity, and a country that values their lives. Let this not be another story that fades after a few news cycles. Let it be the wake-up call that forces us to rethink how we govern, how we plan, and how we protect our people.
Because no dream of serving one’s nation should ever end in death”, he concluded.
Meanwhile, President John Dramani Mahama has confirmed the passing of six young women during the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) recruitment exercise at El-Wak.
Mahama described the incident as a heartbreaking loss for the entire nation.
Speaking to the gathering at the launch of the Nkoko Nkitinkiti Poultry Initiative in Kumasi on Wednesday, November 12, Mahama stated, “a heartbreaking loss for the entire nation. The tragic news is that I have been informed by the military that six young women, who simply sought an opportunity to serve their nation, lost their lives in this heartbreaking incident. We are praying for the 12 others who remain in critical condition”.
He further extended condolences to the bereaved families and called for a thorough investigation into the incident.
See the post below:
A Nation’s Neglect of Its Youth
— Nana Kwame Bediako (@OsagyefoNKB) November 12, 2025
Once again, tragedy strikes where there should have been hope. Six young lives have been lost and dozens more injured following a stampede during the Ghana Armed Forces recruitment exercise. These were ambitious youth, desperate for a chance to…