President John Dramani Mahama has directed the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) to immediately suspend its ongoing recruitment exercise following the tragic stampede at the El-Wak Sports Stadium in Accra that claimed six lives and left several others injured.
The President gave the directive on Wednesday, November 12, 2025, after receiving an official briefing on the incident, describing the deaths as “a sad and painful loss” to the nation.
He extended his deepest condolences to the families of the deceased and wished the injured a speedy recovery, assuring that government will ensure a thorough investigation into the circumstances leading to the tragedy.
Earlier, the Ghana Armed Forces confirmed that six applicants had died and 28 others were injured after a large crowd of hopeful recruits breached security barriers and forced their way into the stadium, triggering the fatal stampede.
Out of the injured, five remain in critical condition at the 37 Military Hospital, while others are receiving treatment for varying degrees of injuries.
The GAF recruitment exercise, part of the 2025/2026 intake process, has now been temporarily suspended nationwide pending a review of safety and crowd management protocols.