Non applicants risk arrest at recruitment centres – GAF warns

The Ghana Armed Forces has issued a strong warning to the public ahead of the resumption of its recruitment exercise in the Greater Accra Region on Thursday, November 20 2025.

According to the military, anyone who is not an applicant but attempts to enter recruitment centres risks immediate arrest as part of efforts to prevent another tragedy.

The caution follows the recent suspension of the recruitment process after a stampede on Wednesday, November 12, that claimed the lives of six young people who had shown up in hopes of joining the forces.

The incident shook families and raised questions about safety at recruitment centres.

Captain Veronica Adzo Arhin, Director General of Public Affairs at the Ghana Armed Forces, explained in an interview on Monday, November 1,7 that new safety measures have been introduced to keep order and reduce overcrowding.

Military police personnel will be stationed at the centres to ensure that only those with valid application documents will be allowed access.

She noted that even genuine applicants may be turned away if they arrive outside their scheduled time.

“We have beefed up our numbers. Even if you are an applicant and you come at the wrong time, I am sure that could even lead to your disqualification,” she said.

Captain Arhin added that the institution is still struggling to understand what led to the deadly stampede, especially since this year’s exercise was decentralised across all sixteen regions to ease congestion.

She said the Armed Forces will wait for the findings of the Board of Inquiry before drawing any conclusions.

For now, the military is pleading with the public to avoid escorting applicants or gathering around the centres.

Officials say these measures are aimed at protecting lives and ensuring that recruitment can continue safely.