Military Recruitment: GAF suspends recruitment at El-Wak after deadly stampede
The Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) has suspended its ongoing military recruitment exercise at the El-Wak Sports Stadium in Accra until further notice following a deadly stampede that claimed six lives on Wednesday, November 12, 2025.
The decision, according to GAF, was taken to ensure the safety and proper coordination of the recruitment process going forward.
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.
The military confirmed that six fatalities had been recorded, after 28 people were rushed to the 37 Military Hospital for treatment. Five more are in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and 12 remain in fairly critical condition.
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.
