GAF suspends recruitment at El-Wak following deadly stampede

The Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) has officially suspended the ongoing military recruitment initiative at the El-Wak Sports Stadium in Accra until further notice, following a tragic stampede that resulted in six fatalities on Wednesday, November 12, 2025.

According to GAF, this decision was made to prioritise the safety and effective coordination of the recruitment process moving forward.

The stampede took place as thousands of young Ghanaians gathered at the stadium in a fervent attempt to join the Ghana Armed Forces.

The overwhelming crowd, combined with intense pushing at the entry points, led to disorder, causing numerous injuries and deaths.

The military has confirmed that six deaths have been reported, with 28 individuals transported to the 37 Military Hospital for medical care.

Additionally, five individuals are currently in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), while 12 others remain in relatively critical condition.

This unfortunate event occurred during an extended recruitment period that the Ghana Armed Forces announced.

The recruitment exercise, initially scheduled to conclude on October 31, 2025, was extended by one week due to technical difficulties with the recruitment portal.