Following a stampede at the El-Wak Sports Stadium in Accra on Wednesday, November 12, 2025, during an ongoing military recruitment exercise, six more people have been reported dead, bringing the total to 12 after the military had previously confirmed six deaths.
Reports also show that several others are currently receiving treatment in the intensive care unit. The military claims that the stampede happened after thousands of young Ghanaians flocked to the stadium in a desperate attempt to secure enlistment in the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF).
The large crowd and fierce jostling at the entry points caused chaos, which resulted in numerous injuries and fatalities.
The bodies of the 12 deceased have been deposited at the 37 Military Hospital morgue, while several others are receiving emergency treatment at the facility’s emergency ward. Security personnel have cordoned off the area, with the military blocking all major roads leading to El-Wak Stadium to maintain order and facilitate rescue operations.
The Ghana Armed Forces had announced an extended recruitment period at the time of the terrible tragedy. Due to technical issues with the recruitment portal, the exercise, which was originally set to expire on October 31, 2025, was prolonged by one week.
The military clarified that the extension was required to accommodate applicants who had encountered challenges during the initial phase in a statement signed by Colonel Evelyn Ntiamoah Asamoah, Acting Director General of Public Relations.
“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.
Authorities are yet to officially comment on the stampede, but preliminary reports suggest that poor crowd control and the overwhelming turnout contributed to the disaster.
Investigations are expected to be launched to determine the circumstances leading to the incident and prevent similar tragedies in future recruitment exercises.