By: Kenneth Appiah Bani
The Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) has suspended its ongoing recruitment exercise in the Greater Accra Region following a tragic stampede at the El-Wak Sports Stadium on Wednesday, November 12, 2025, which claimed six lives and left several others injured.
In an official statement released on Wednesday, the military high command expressed deep sorrow over the incident and announced the establishment of a Board of Inquiry to investigate the circumstances leading to the tragedy.
“A Board of Inquiry has been constituted to unravel the circumstances that led to the unfortunate incident,” the statement read.
According to GAF, the suspension is a precautionary measure to allow for the implementation of enhanced safety and crowd management protocols before the continuation of the recruitment exercise.
“The temporary suspension will enable us to put in place additional measures to ensure the safety and smooth conduct of the exercise,” the statement added.
Eyewitnesses at the El-Wak Sports Stadium recounted scenes of panic as thousands of hopeful applicants rushed to enter the venue early Wednesday morning. The overcrowding reportedly led to a stampede at one of the main entry points, resulting in fatalities and multiple injuries.
Emergency services, including personnel from the Ghana National Fire Service, the Ghana Police Service, and the National Ambulance Service, were deployed to the scene to provide medical assistance and transport the injured to nearby hospitals.
The Ghana Armed Forces extended condolences to the families of the deceased and pledged full cooperation with relevant authorities to ensure a thorough investigation.
Meanwhile, GAF has urged the public to remain calm and await further updates regarding the rescheduling of the recruitment exercise.
The tragic incident has reignited public debate over crowd control and safety measures during large-scale national recruitment exercises, with many calling for a review of current procedures to prevent future occurrences.
