President John Dramani Mahama has ordered the immediate suspension of the ongoing Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) recruitment exercise in the Greater Accra Region following a tragic stampede at the El-Wak Sports Stadium that claimed the lives of six young women.
The President announced the decision during his address in Kumasi, ahead of the official launch of the Nkoko Nkitinkiti Program, describing the event as deeply distressing and entirely avoidable.
“All the casualties are female,” he said solemnly, expressing his condolences to the bereaved families and the entire nation. President Mahama disclosed that he issued the suspension directive during his earlier visit to the 37 Military Hospital in Accra, shortly after receiving news of the stampede.
“I have instructed the Armed Forces to halt the Greater Accra recruitment process. This suspension will allow for a comprehensive review of the circumstances that led to this tragedy and ensure such an incident never happens again.”
President John Dramani Mahama
The President called on the gathering in Kumasi to observe a one-minute silence in honour of the six young women who lost their lives and offered prayers for their families. His tone reflected both grief and resolve, underscoring his government’s commitment to accountability and safety in all public exercises.
Earlier in the day, President Mahama, accompanied by Finance Minister and Acting Defence Minister Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, had visited the 37 Military Hospital to console the injured and receive briefings from medical officials.
The Ghana Armed Forces confirmed that twelve victims remain in critical condition, including five in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), while emergency teams continue to provide care to dozens of others treated for injuries ranging from fractures to breathing complications.
The tragic incident occurred during the ongoing nationwide military recruitment process, which had been extended by a week due to technical challenges on the GAF online recruitment portal.
The extension reportedly attracted a surge of applicants to designated recruitment centres, with the El-Wak Stadium being one of the largest venues in the Greater Accra Region.
According to preliminary reports from the Ghana Armed Forces, the stampede was caused by the overwhelming number of applicants who converged at the stadium in a desperate attempt to gain entry.
Witnesses recounted chaotic scenes of pushing, jostling, and fainting at the gates as hundreds struggled to access the venue in the early hours of the morning.
The GAF Public Affairs Directorate later released a statement describing the event as “deeply unfortunate,” attributing the tragedy to crowd pressure beyond security expectations.
The statement assured that the military was cooperating fully with security and emergency services to manage the aftermath and review internal procedures to avoid a recurrence.
Security personnel quickly cordoned off the area following the incident. Military officers blocked major roads leading to the El-Wak Stadium to facilitate emergency response and control crowds still gathered around the venue. The bodies of the deceased have been deposited at the 37 Military Hospital morgue for identification and autopsy.
President Mahama’s prompt visit to the hospital underscored his government’s empathy and swift response to the crisis, while his directive to suspend the recruitment process is a necessary step to ensure accountability and reform.
Meanwhile, security experts have called for an independent investigation into the cause of the stampede, citing possible flaws in crowd control and recruitment logistics. Many have argued that the decentralisation of recruitment centres could have reduced congestion and prevented the tragedy.
Beyond the immediate loss of lives, the incident has reignited discussions about youth unemployment and the overwhelming demand for jobs in the security services.
The sight of thousands of hopeful young Ghanaians lining up under harsh conditions for limited slots, critics say, reflects the broader challenge of creating sustainable employment opportunities across the country.
The nationwide recruitment exercise remains ongoing at designated centres across all regions, but activities in the Greater Accra Region have been suspended indefinitely pending the outcome of the review ordered by the President.
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