A tragic stampede at the El-Wak Sports Stadium in Accra has left six people dead and dozens injured during the ongoing Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) recruitment exercise on Wednesday, November 12, 2025.
The Ghana Armed Forces confirmed that 28 individuals were rushed to the 37 Military Hospital for treatment. Out of the total, six fatalities have been recorded, five remain in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), and 12 others are in critical condition.
The chaos erupted after thousands of hopeful applicants flooded the stadium, desperate to secure a place in the highly competitive military enlistment program. Overcrowding and intense pushing at the entry gates reportedly led to panic and a deadly crush.
Security forces swiftly cordoned off the area, blocking major access roads around El-Wak Stadium to manage the crowd and support emergency operations.
The disaster occurred during an extended phase of the military recruitment exercise, which had been prolonged by one week due to technical challenges on the GAF online portal.
In an official statement signed by Colonel Evelyn Ntiamoah Asamoah, Acting Director-General of Public Relations, the military said the extension aimed to give more applicants the chance to complete their submissions:
“The Ghana Armed Forces has extended the deadline for the ongoing recruitment exercise by one week due to technical challenges encountered on the recruitment portal during the initial period,” the statement noted.
Although investigations are ongoing, preliminary reports indicate that poor crowd control and the overwhelming turnout may have contributed to the deadly stampede.
Authorities have pledged to conduct a full inquiry into the incident to prevent future tragedies during national recruitment exercises.