The National Democratic Congress government has suspended the ongoing Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) recruitment exercise in Accra following a tragic stampe
The National Democratic Congress government has suspended the ongoing Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) recruitment exercise in Accra following a tragic stampede at the El-Wak Military Sports Stadium that left six people dead and 34 others injured on Wednesday morning.
The incident, which has plunged the nation into mourning, occurred during the documentation and body selection phase of the 2025 GAF enlistment process.
Thousands of eager young men and women had gathered at the venue hoping to secure limited slots in the Armed Forces, but the overwhelming crowd turned chaotic, leading to the deadly crush.
Minister’s Update to Parliament
Acting Minister for Defence and Finance Minister, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, addressing Parliament shortly after the incident, confirmed that six deaths have been recorded, while five victims remain in critical condition in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at the 37 Military Hospital.
He added that 12 others are fairly critical, while the rest of the injured are in stable condition and receiving treatment.
“In light of these difficulties, the Ministry of Defence has halted the recruitment process in Accra until further notice,” Dr. Forson told the House.
“We are deeply saddened by this loss and extend our condolences to the affected families. Every necessary step will be taken to prevent such an incident from happening again.”
The Minister further revealed that one person had also been hospitalized in Kumasi during a separate recruitment exercise, though unrelated to the El-Wak stampede.
Overcrowding And Desperation
The GAF’s 2025 recruitment, launched a month ago, had attracted an overwhelming number of applicants nationwide.
The online application portal closed on November 7, 2025, and successful candidates were directed to report to regional recruitment centres for physical verification this week.
Despite efforts to decentralize the recruitment process across the regions to minimize congestion, the El-Wak Sports Stadium — one of the main centres — was heavily overcrowded. Reports indicate that some applicants had slept around the stadium gates overnight, hoping to gain early access.
Eyewitnesses described scenes of panic as the crowd surged forward when the gates opened, resulting in several people being trampled upon and suffocated before military officers could restore order.
Security personnel later cordoned off the area as ambulances rushed victims to the 37 Military Hospital and other nearby health facilities.
Government Response And Investigation
Following the incident, the Ministry of Defence has set up an internal Board of Inquiry to investigate the causes of the stampede and identify lapses in safety and crowd control measures.
Ato Forson assured Parliament that the government would collaborate with the Ghana Armed Forces, medical teams, and law enforcement agencies to provide full support for the injured and the bereaved families.
“This tragic event is a wake-up call,” he emphasized. “The safety and dignity of all applicants remain paramount, and the Ministry will take every step necessary to ensure this never happens again.”
The Minister confirmed that while activities in Accra have been suspended indefinitely, the recruitment process continues in other regions without incident.
A Recurring Tragedy
The El-Wak stampede has drawn comparisons to previous recruitment disasters in Ghana.
Despite those events, calls for improved safety protocols and digitized recruitment processes have gone largely unheeded.
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