At least six people have been confirmed dead following a stampede at the El-Wak Sports Stadium in Accra on Wednesday during an ongoing military recruitment exercise.
According to reports, thousands of young Ghanaians had gathered at the stadium in hopes of securing enlistment into the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF). The massive turnout, combined with heavy jostling at the entry points, quickly descended into chaos, resulting in multiple injuries and fatalities.
News sources indicate that the bodies of the six deceased have been deposited at the 37 Military Hospital morgue. Several others who sustained injuries 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 and medical operations.
The tragic incident occurred amid an extended recruitment period announced by the Ghana Armed Forces. The exercise, initially scheduled to end on October 31, 2025, was extended by one week due to technical challenges on the recruitment portal.
In a statement signed by Colonel Evelyn Ntiamoah Asamoah, Acting Director General of Public Relations, the GAF explained that the extension aimed to accommodate applicants who faced difficulties during the initial phase of the process.
“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 have yet to issue an official statement on the stampede, but preliminary reports suggest that poor crowd control and the overwhelming turnout contributed to the deadly incident.
Investigations are expected to be launched to determine the circumstances surrounding the tragedy and to prevent a recurrence in future recruitment exercises.
