The Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) has confirmed that six people have died and over two dozen others were injured following a stampede at the El-Wak Sports Stadium in Accra on Wednesday, November 12, 2025, during an ongoing military recruitment exercise.
Confusion initially surrounded the tragedy after conflicting reports suggested as many as 12 fatalities, but the GAF later clarified that six deaths had been officially confirmed.
According to the statement, 28 individuals were rushed to the 37 Military Hospital for treatment. Of these, five are in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), while 12 remain in critical condition.
The stampede reportedly broke out after thousands of young Ghanaians converged on the stadium, eager to secure limited spots in the Armed Forces. Witnesses described chaotic scenes as the crowd surged at the entry gates, resulting in several people being trampled.
Security personnel quickly cordoned off the area, while military police blocked all major access roads leading to El-Wak Stadium to restore order and assist emergency services.
The tragedy occurred during an extended recruitment period announced by the GAF, following technical issues on its online application portal. The deadline, which was initially October 31, 2025, had been extended by one week to accommodate affected applicants.
In a statement signed by Colonel Evelyn Ntiamoah Asamoah, Acting Director General of Public Relations, the military explained that the extension aimed to ensure fairness in the recruitment process.
“The Ghana Armed Forces has extended the deadline for the ongoing recruitment exercise by one week due to some technical challenges encountered on the recruitment portal during the initial period,” the statement read.
