GAF forms inquiry board following deadly recruitment stampede

The Acting Minister of Defence, Dr Cassiel Ato Forson, has announced the establishment of an internal Board of Enquiry by the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) to investigate the tragic stampede that occurred at the El-Wak Sports Stadium in Accra during the GAF recruitment exercise on Wednesday, November 12, 2025.

He made this announcement while briefing Parliament on the development on Wednesday.

"Mr. Speaker, the Ghana Armed Forces has instituted an internal Board of Enquiry to investigate the causes of this unfortunate incident," he noted.

Dr Ato Forson explained that, following the tragedy, the recruitment exercise in Accra has been suspended.

“In light of this development, the Ministry of Defence has halted the recruitment process in Accra until further notice. The safety and dignity of applicants remain paramount, and the Ministry will take every step necessary to prevent a recurrence,” he said.

He added that, aside from the El-Wak incident, recruitment exercises in all other regional centres were proceeding smoothly without major challenges.

Dr Ato Forson expressed regret over the incident, confirming that 34 people were affected.

"Out of these 34 casualties, six persons have been confirmed dead. Five are in critical condition in the ICU, twelve are in fairly critical condition, and the rest are stable and under observation," he stated.

Medical officials at the 37 Military Hospital confirmed that the bodies of the six deceased have been deposited at the hospital morgue, while several injured applicants are receiving treatment at the emergency ward.

Security personnel quickly cordoned off the area, blocked nearby roads, and coordinated rescue efforts to restore calm.

The incident occurred shortly after the GAF extended its recruitment deadline by a week due to technical challenges with its online portal, which reportedly increased the number of applicants showing up in person.

Although official investigations are ongoing, early reports indicate that inadequate crowd management and the overwhelming turnout were the primary causes of the disaster.

Read Dr Ato Forson's full statement in Parliament below:

Urgent Statement On the Stampede at El-Wak Military Sports Facility – Wednesday, 12th November 2025

Mr. Speaker, Honourable Members,
It is with deep regret that I rise to inform this House of a tragic incident that occurred this morning, Wednesday, 12th November 2025, at the… pic.twitter.com/tNG3rWSa3W

— Cassiel Ato Forson (PhD) (@Cassielforson) November 12, 2025

JKB/MA

Ghana Armed Forces gives details of stampede which led to the death of six people