Six Dead, Dozens Injured in Stampede at GAF Recruitment Drive in Accra

A tragic crowd crush at a recruitment exercise of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) has left at least six people dead and numerous others injured at El-Wak Stadium in Accra. The incident occurred early on Wednesday morning when thousands of would-be applicants converged at the venue and security barriers gave way amid the rush.

According to GAF’s official statement, a total of 28 applicants were rushed to the 37 Military Hospital for emergency treatment. Of those, 5 are in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) and 12 are reported to be in critical condition. The military clarified that earlier social media reports of 12 deaths were incorrect, reiterating that six fatalities are confirmed at this time.

Eyewitnesses said the rush began around 6:20 a.m., when a large group of hopeful recruits arrived before the planned screening schedule and broke through the entry gates, causing panic and a surge of bodies into the stadium concourse. The GAF said the recruitment portal had been extended by one week to accommodate technical issues, which may have contributed to the high volume of applicants.

President John Dramani Mahama visited the hospital to obtain updates on the victims’ condition and extended condolences to the families of the deceased. He called for a full investigation into the incident and ordered enhanced crowd-management protocols for future recruitment exercises.

Labour and youth advocates say the tragic occurrence reflects deeper underlying issues: Ghana’s youth unemployment rate remains high, and many young people view enlistment in the security services as a stable employment option. The GAF said it is reviewing its entry-process, capacity at screening centres and safety measures, to prevent any repetition of such a mishap.

What’s Next:

• The GAF investigation team is expected to submit a report within one month, outlining how security measures failed, and what systemic changes will be implemented.
• The Ministry of Defence has pledged to audit all forthcoming recruitment sites for crowd-control readiness, based on recommendations from the Chief of Staff.
• Stakeholders in youth employment and public safety are calling for the recruitment of large applicant pools to be decentralised across regional centres rather than concentrating at one urban venue.

This incident marks one of the most serious recruitment-related accidents in Ghana in recent years, and has ignited calls for stronger oversight, better infrastructure and heightened accountability.