Military recruitment stampede: 6 dead, 5 in ICU, 12 in critical condition – Ghana Armed Forces
The Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) has confirmed that six people have died following a stampede at the El-Wak Sports Stadium in Accra on Wednesday, November 12, 2025, during an ongoing military recruitment exercise.
Earlier, conflicting reports had indicated that 12 people had died, creating confusion after the GAF initially confirmed six fatalities.
According to the military, 28 people were taken to the 37 Military Hospital for treatment. Of these, six have been confirmed dead, five are in the ICU, and 12 remain in critical condition.
The stampede occurred after thousands of young Ghanaians thronged the stadium in a desperate bid to enlist into the Ghana Armed Forces. The large crowd, coupled with intense jostling at entry points, led to chaos, resulting in multiple injuries and fatalities.
Security personnel cordoned off the area, and the military has blocked all major roads leading to El-Wak Stadium to maintain order and facilitate rescue operations.
The tragic incident happened amid an extended recruitment period announced by the Ghana Armed Forces. The exercise, originally scheduled to close on October 31, 2025, was extended by one week following 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.
Authorities have yet to provide additional comments on the stampede, but preliminary reports suggest that poor crowd control and the overwhelming turnout contributed to the disaster.
Investigations are expected to be launched to determine the circumstances leading to the incident and prevent similar tragedies in future recruitment exercises.
