The Ghana Armed Forces has dismissed claims of abandoning Sandra Baafi Boateng, a 25-year-old victim of the military recruitment stampede at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi. The incident occurred on November 12, 2025, resulting in multiple casualties and raising concerns over crowd management and security arrangements. Sandra sustained a severe traumatic head injury during the stampede and was admitted to the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital, where she received treatment until February 26, 2026.
The Ghana Armed Forces outlined medical, financial, and welfare support provided to Sandra and her family since the incident. The military spent approximately GH¢113,800 on Sandra's medical care, including GH¢85,000 at the Komfo Anokye Teaching Hospital and GH¢28,800 at the 37 Military Hospital. The military also provided Sandra's family with GH¢30,000 in financial assistance and facilitated the recruitment of her sister, Mercy Bioh, into the Ghana Army.
Following a visit by a Ministry of Defence delegation on February 20, 2026, Sandra's family requested her transfer to the 37 Military Hospital in Accra for further medical attention. The military arranged an air medical evacuation, and Sandra was transported from Kumasi to Accra on February 26, 2026. At the time of transfer, Sandra was semi-conscious but responsive to pain. Medical personnel at the 37 Military Hospital provided additional specialist services, including dietetic care, palliative support, and physiotherapy.
A medical review conducted on March 8, 2026, indicated that Sandra's condition remained largely unchanged following the transfer. The 37 Military Hospital provided continued care, and her mother received assistance from the hospital's Therapy and Wellness team. Sandra's eight-month admission at the 37 Military Hospital was estimated at GH¢28,800, based on a daily cost of GH¢120.
The Ghana Armed Forces organised a ceremony on October 28, 2026, to support the parents of two victims discharged from the 37 Military Hospital. Sandra's mother received GH¢30,000 in financial assistance and an air bed to improve her daughter's comfort and care. The military also offered a wheelchair, but her mother declined, stating they already had one.
The military arranged for Sandra's transfer from Accra to Kumasi using a military ambulance, but her mother opted for air transportation. Since an airlift could not be arranged at the time, she declined the military ambulance and opted to travel with the National Ambulance Service. The Ghana Armed Forces maintains that its responsibility towards Sandra and her family has not ended with her discharge from the military hospital.
The military's interventions form part of its continued commitment to Sandra and her family, adding that her medical care will continue through the 4th Military Hospital in Kumasi following her discharge from the 37 Military Hospital. The latest developments come amid public interest in the welfare of victims of the November 2025 recruitment stampede and questions about the support being provided to those who sustained life-changing injuries.
Key points
- The Ghana Armed Forces provided GH¢113,800 in medical support to Sandra Baafi Boateng, a victim of the Baba Yara Sports Stadium stampede.
