Tragedy struck early morning on 12th November 2025, at the El-Wak Sports Stadium in Accra when a stampede during the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) recruitment exercise claimed the lives of six potential recruits and left several others injured.
According to a statement issued by the Department of Public Relations of the GAF, the incident occurred around 6:20 a.m. prior to the commencement of the 2025/2026 recruitment screening.
Preliminary investigations revealed that the stampede was triggered by an unexpected surge of applicants who breached security protocols and rushed into the stadium ahead of the scheduled screening time.
“The unfortunate incident led to the death of six potential recruits and many others injured,” the statement said. It added that the injured are currently receiving emergency medical treatment at the 37 Military Hospital in Accra.
Captain Veronica Adzo Arhin, Acting Director-General of Public Relations, expressed the Armed Forces’ condolences to the families of the deceased and assured the public that medical teams are working tirelessly to stabilize the affected individuals.
“The Ghana Armed Forces extends its deepest condolences to the families of the deceased and wishes a swift recovery to those injured. Further updates will be communicated,” the statement noted.
Authorities say efforts are underway to notify the families of the deceased as investigations continue into the circumstances leading to the breach of security protocols.
The GAF also urged the public to remain calm and adhere to all recruitment guidelines to prevent similar incidents in future exercises.
