Businessman and political leader Nana Kwame Bediako, also known as Cheddar, has blamed government negligence and leadership failure for the tragic deaths of six young Ghanaians during the Ghana Armed Forces recruitment exercise.

In a statement posted on X on November 12, 2025, Bediako described the tragedy as a symptom of deeper national issues, including high youth unemployment and a lack of foresight by Ghana’s leaders.

“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”, he stated.

Military Recruitment Stampede: Six dead, five in intensive care unit, 12 in critical condition - Reports

Bediako criticised successive governments for signing away the country’s natural resources, including lithium, while failing to build local industries that could create jobs for the youth.

“If Ghana were truly committed to industrialising and adding value locally, the youth would not be stampeding at recruitment centers; they would be working in factories, research labs and technology hubs powered by Ghanaian ingenuity,” he said.

He further highlighted the lack of safety protocols and crowd management during the recruitment exercise, describing it as a ‘crisis of governance’ and ‘disregard for human life’.

Bediako also called on leaders to embrace visionary and accountable governance, referring to his ‘Twelve Pillars’ blueprint for self-reliance, industrialization, and national dignity.

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“The youth of Ghana deserve more than empty promises and preventable tragedies. They deserve jobs, dignity and a country that values their lives. No dream of serving one’s nation should ever end in death”, he indicated.

The businessman urged that this latest incident serve as a wake-up call to rethink planning, governance, and the protection of citizens.

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A Nation’s Neglect of Its Youth

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…

— Nana Kwame Bediako (@OsagyefoNKB) November 12, 2025