The Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) has confirmed the death of six potential recruits during a recruitment exercise at the El-Wak Stadium in Accra on Wednesday, November 12, 2025.
This comes after thousands of young Ghanaians thronged the stadium in a desperate bid to secure enlistment into the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF).
They died in a stampede that occurred during the recruitment process in the early hours of Wednesday, when, according to the military, some of the applicants breached protocols.
In a statement signed by Veronica Adzo Arhin, Captain, Ghana Navy, Acting Director General of Public Affairs for the Ghana Armed Forces, and issued on Wednesday, November 12, she said some other persons sustained injuries and have been rushed to the hospital for medical care.
“Preliminary investigations indicate that the stampede was triggered by an unexpected surge of applicants who breached security protocols and rushed into the gates ahead of scheduled screening at about 0620 hours.
“The unfortunate incident led to the death of 6 potential recruits and many others injured. The injured are currently receiving emergency medical care at the 37 Military Hospital,” the statement contained in some parts.
While the GAF medical teams are working to stabilise the affected individuals, the statement further said “arrangements are being made to notify the families of the deceased.”
Below is the statement issued by the GAF, shared by the Deputy Minister of Defence Minister, Ernest Brogya Genfi, on his socials.
The incident follows an extended recruitment period of one week announced by the Ghana Armed Forces, pushing the October 31, 2025 deadline as a result of technical challenges on the recruitment portal.
In a statement signed by Colonel Evelyn Ntiamoah Asamoah, Acting Director General of Public Relations, the military explained that the extension was necessary to accommodate applicants who had experienced difficulties during the initial phase.
“The Ghana Armed Forces has extended the deadline for the ongoing recruitment exercise by one week due to some technical challenges encountered on the recruitment portal during the initial period,” the statement read.
6 dead, several injured in stampede at Ghana Armed Forces recruitment exercise
