The Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) has launched a Board of Inquiry to investigate the circumstances surrounding a fatal stampede that occurred during its 2025/2026 recruitment exercise at the El-Wak Sports Stadium in Accra on Wednesday, November 12, 2025.
The incident left six people dead and 28 others injured.
In a statement issued by the Department of Public Relations from the General Headquarters at Burma Camp, the GAF announced the temporary suspension of the recruitment exercise in the Greater Accra Region to allow for investigations and the introduction of stronger safety measures.
“The Ghana Armed Forces deeply regrets to inform the general public that due to the fatal incident that occurred at the El-Wak Sports Stadium this morning, Wednesday, 12 November 2025, as part of the 2025/2026 recruitment exercise, the exercise in Greater Accra has been temporarily suspended.
This is to allow for additional measures to ensure a safe process,” the statement read.
The release, signed by Captain (Ghana Navy) Veronica Adzo Arhin, Acting Director General of Public Relations, expressed regret over the tragedy and assured the public that steps were being taken to prevent a recurrence.
Preliminary investigations suggest the stampede was triggered by an unexpected surge of applicants who breached security barriers and rushed through the gates ahead of the scheduled screening at about 6:20 a.m. The rush caused several people to collapse and be trampled, leading to the casualties.
The President later visited victims receiving treatment at the 37 Military Hospital and directed the suspension of the recruitment exercise to allow for a full investigation into the tragedy.
Video footage circulating online showed large crowds, mostly dressed in white shirts and black trousers, trooping into the 7,000-capacity stadium.
A Board of Inquiry has since been constituted to determine the causes of the incident and make recommendations to improve safety and crowd management in future recruitment exercises.
“The Armed Forces deeply regrets any inconvenience this suspension may cause the public, particularly affected applicants. Applicants will be informed of the new date for the resumption of the process later,” the statement added.
The GAF extended condolences to the bereaved families and wished the injured a speedy recovery, adding that medical teams at the 37 Military Hospital were working to stabilise affected persons.
