The Ministry of Defence has suspended the ongoing Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) recruitment screening exercise in Accra following a deadly stampede at the El-Wak Stadium that claimed six lives and injured 28 others on Wednesday, November 12, 2025.
Acting Minister for Defence, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, briefed Parliament on the tragedy, revealing that 34 individuals were directly affected in the chaos, including potential recruits and bystanders unrelated to the exercise.
“Out of these 34 casualties, six persons have been confirmed dead,” Dr. Forson told the House.
“Five are critical and, as we speak, they are in the ICU. Twelve are fairly critical. The rest are stable and under observation,” he stated.
He added that one person was hospitalised at the Kumasi recruitment centre in a separate incident unrelated to the Accra stampede.
The recruitment process, which began about a month ago, saw applications close on Friday, November 7, 2025. Shortlisted applicants were directed to report to their chosen regional centres on Wednesday for documentation verification and body selection.
According to the Acting Minister, this year’s exercise was decentralised across all regions to reduce congestion, enhance transparency, fairness, and nationwide accessibility.
“Unfortunately, despite these measures, a stampede occurred at the El-Wak facility in Accra,” Dr. Forson lamented.
In response, the Ministry of Defence has halted the screening in Accra until further notice.
The Acting Minister assured Parliament that the exercise is proceeding smoothly in all other regions without incident.
“The Ministry of Defence deeply mourns the loss of life and extends condolences to the affected families,” he stated.
“We are working closely with the Ghana Armed Forces medical teams and law enforcement agencies to provide full support to the injured and to investigate the circumstances that led to this tragedy,” he added.
The Acting Minister announced that GAF has instituted an internal board of enquiry to probe the causes of the incident.
Dr. Forson emphasised that “the safety and dignity of applicants remains paramount,” pledging that every necessary step will be taken to prevent a recurrence.
Earlier in the day, a separate stampede at the Baba Yara Sports Stadium in Kumasi left five young people injured.
Ashanti Regional Minister, Dr. Frank Amoakohene, confirmed the incident on Facebook.