At least six people have been reported dead following a stampede at the El-Wak Sports Stadium in Accra on Wednesday, November 12, 2025, during an ongoing military recruitment exercise.
Reports indicate that thousands of young Ghanaians had thronged the stadium in a desperate bid to secure enlistment into the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF). The large crowd, coupled with intense jostling at the entry points, led to chaos that resulted in multiple injuries and fatalities according to reports.
Sources indicate that the bodies of the six deceased have been deposited at the 37 Military Hospital morgue, while several others are receiving emergency treatment at the facility’s casualty ward.
Security personnel have since cordoned off the area, with the military blocking all major roads leading to El-Wak Stadium to maintain order and facilitate rescue operations.
The tragic incident occurred amid an extended recruitment period announced by the Ghana Armed Forces. The exercise, which was initially scheduled to close on October 31, 2025, had been 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 are yet to officially comment 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 to prevent similar tragedies in future recruitment exercises.
