Tragedy Strikes Ghana Military Recruitment Exercise
A military recruitment drive in Ghana turned deadly on Wednesday when a massive stampede at El-Wak Sports Stadium in Accra claimed six lives and left numerous applicants injured. The incident occurred during the 2025/2026 Ghana Armed Forces recruitment exercise, highlighting the desperate situation faced by many young job seekers in the region.
Chaos and Crush at Stadium Gates
The tragedy unfolded around 6:20 a.m. when hundreds of applicants forced their way through the stadium gates before the official screening process began. Witnesses reported that the crowd breached security arrangements in a frantic attempt to gain early entry to the recruitment venue. The sudden surge created panic among the thousands of hopefuls, leading to a devastating crush that trapped many individuals.
Colonel Evelyn Ntiamoah Asamoah, Acting Director General of Public Relations for the Ghana Armed Forces, confirmed the casualties in an official statement. Six potential recruits lost their lives in the incident, while many others sustained various injuries during the chaotic scene.
Emergency Response and Investigation
Medical teams were immediately deployed to the stadium to manage the emergency situation. All victims were transported to the 37 Military Hospital for urgent medical treatment. Military authorities confirmed that the injured are currently receiving emergency care and efforts are ongoing to stabilize affected individuals.
The Ghana Armed Forces has launched a full investigation into the circumstances that led to the stampede. In their statement, Colonel Asamoah expressed the military's deepest condolences to the families of the deceased and wished a swift recovery to those injured. The families of all six victims have been contacted by authorities.
This tragic event underscores the massive turnout that typically characterizes recruitment exercises by Ghana's security agencies. Thousands of young citizens regularly participate in these drives, seeking stable employment opportunities amid widespread youth unemployment in the country.
The incident has raised serious questions about crowd management and security protocols during large-scale recruitment events. Military officials have promised to provide further updates as their investigation progresses and have assured the public that appropriate measures will be taken to prevent similar tragedies in the future.
