The Ghana Armed Forces have reported the death of six potential recruits and several more injuries that occurred prior to the commencement of the 2025/2026 recruitment exercise on Wednesday, November 12, 2025, at the El-Wak Sports Stadium in Accra.
According to the Armed Forces reportage, a preliminary investigation indicates that due to an unexpected surge of applicants who breached security protocols and rushed into the stadium ahead of the scheduled time for the screening exercise as part of the recruitment process, a tragic stampede was triggered, leading to the death of some six applicants and injuries to several others.
“The unfortunate incident led to the death of 6 potential recruits and many others injured. The injured are currently receiving emergency medical care at the 37 Military Hospital. The Ghana Armed Forces assures the general public that medical teams are working tirelessly to stabilize affected individuals.”
Veronica Adzo Arhin, Captain (Ghana Navy), Acting Director General, Public Relations
The notice also indicated that efforts are underway to establish contact with the families of the deceased in order to convey to them this otherwise regrettable incident.
Due to the decentralization of the recruitment process whereby such screening events as today’s own, are now being done at the regional level instead of the usual national level, expectations were that incidents of casualties would be a thing of the past as the crowd level would have reduced.
However, the situation at the Greater Accra Regional recruitment center, the El-Wak Sports Stadium, appears to indicate a different narrative, given the vastness of the crowd that assembled at the center.
This perhaps reflects the persistent calls by the IMANI Center for Policy and Education for further decentralization initiatives to have the recruitment being done at the district level, as they have argued that the regional-level recruitment is not enough for Ghana’s ever-growing population.
They have argued that such decentralization will open up the Armed Forces to be able to tap into the youthful population right from high school cadets whose enthusiasm and youthful exuberance will be valuable for the force.
Ministerial Assurance
Prior to this tragic incident involving the death and casualties of potential recruits, the Greater Accra Regional Minister and Member of Parliament for Shai-Osudoku, Hon. Linda Obenewaa Akweley Ocloo, had visited the center, assuring applicants and the general public of the military’s cooperation.
“As a regional minister, I have to be here to see that everything is in order. I mean, when I came here, I could see that so far, so good. Just that we are encouraging the youth to get something to eat. Because we were told that some came here since yesterday.”
Hon. Linda Obenewaa Akweley Ocloo, Greater Accra Regional Minister and Member of Parliament for Shai-Osudoku
“If you don’t eat, you know what will happen, so we don’t want any casualty,” she emphasized.
The minister underscored the need for patience from applicants, as the military had assured their commitment to attend to everyone as per their schedule.
The minister further assured that everyone will be attended to. However, she emphasized that it was not possible to serve everyone simultaneously, which is the reason why the process was organized in batches.
“I was even told that they’ve even asked some to go to the house and come tomorrow. Today they want to attend to the armed forces, you see, the army. And then tomorrow they will attend to the navy.
“So, they should also understand, I mean, from their point of view, where they are also coming from. So that we wouldn’t have any casualty.”
Hon. Linda Obenewaa Akweley Ocloo, Greater Accra Regional Minister and Member of Parliament for Shai-Osudoku,
She noted that the crowd was a reflection of the youth’s ambition and enthusiasm to serve their nation by applying to join the Army. “Give them the chance to serve their country,” she added.
It is therefore regrettable that upon the assurances of the Regional Minister with respect to their quest to prevent casualties, tragic incidences of this nature will still happen.
The Ghana Armed Forces have indicated that there will be further updates on the issues at hand.
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