Six Dead, 22 Injured in Stampede at Ghana Army Recruitment Event

A military recruitment exercise in Ghana turned tragic on Wednesday when a stampede at the El-Wak Sports Stadium in Accra left at least six people dead and 22 others injured, according to the Ghana Armed Forces.

“The unfortunate incident led to the death of six potential recruits,” the army said in a statement.

Hospital officials confirmed that five of the injured are in critical condition at the 37 Military Hospital. A similar stampede in Kumasi also left five others wounded, authorities said.

The army announced the immediate suspension of the recruitment process and the establishment of a committee to investigate the cause of what it described as an “unfortunate incident.”

At the 37 Military Hospital, scenes of grief and chaos unfolded as anxious families crowded the emergency ward, waiting for news of their loved ones. Relatives clutched ID cards and mobile phones, while doctors and nurses raced through the corridors moving stretchers. Security personnel struggled to contain the growing crowd outside the casualty unit.

President John Mahama visited the hospital under heavy security to console the injured and their families. “We witnessed a sad event today; we encountered a disaster,” Mahama said.

He explained that the tragedy occurred when a large number of applicants “breached security protocols and rushed” through the stadium gates before the official start of the screening exercise. “The violence ensued when the gates were opened for people to enter, but the youth rushed in, and sadly, some fell and were stomped on,” he added.

The Ghana Armed Forces said the stampede happened around 6:20 a.m. local time, when an unexpected surge of applicants attempted to enter the stadium.

Beyond traditional military duties, Ghana’s armed forces are also engaged in tackling illegal mining operations across the gold-rich West African nation.

President Mahama noted that his administration had ordered that the recruitment be conducted openly “to ensure young people across the country have equal access to joining the military.”

Opinion Nigeria News