President John Dramani Mahama has paid a visit to the 37 Military Hospital in Accra to obtain firsthand information on the tragic stampede that occurred during the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) recruitment exercise at the El-Wak Sports Stadium on Wednesday, November 12, 2025.
The President was accompanied by the Chief of Staff, Julius Debrah, the acting Minister of Defence, Cassiel Ato Forson, and other senior government officials. The visit was aimed at assessing the condition of the victims and receiving updates from medical personnel and military authorities.
According to official reports, the stampede claimed the lives of six applicants, while several others sustained serious injuries. The Ghana Armed Forces confirmed that 28 people were rushed to the 37 Military Hospital for emergency treatment.
Out of this number, six were confirmed dead, five are currently in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), and 12 remain in critical condition.
Although the identities of the deceased have not yet been disclosed, preliminary reports indicate that most of the victims were young women who had gathered early in hopes of securing positions in the military service.
A statement issued by the Ghana Armed Forces explained that the incident occurred around 6:20 a.m. after a sudden surge of applicants breached security barriers and forced their way through the gates before the scheduled screening time.
The overcrowding and lack of crowd control led to panic and chaos, resulting in the unfortunate loss of lives.
In its statement, the GAF expressed deep sorrow over the tragedy and extended condolences to the bereaved families while wishing the injured a speedy recovery.
“The Ghana Armed Forces extends its deepest condolences to the families of the deceased and wishes those receiving treatment a full and quick recovery,” the statement read.
During his visit, President Mahama interacted with medical staff and relatives of the victims, expressing sympathy and reaffirming the government’s commitment to ensuring that such incidents do not recur in future recruitment exercises.
He also commended the medical personnel and security agencies for their swift response and urged a thorough investigation into the circumstances surrounding the stampede.
The El-Wak Stadium tragedy has sparked widespread concern about safety measures and crowd management during national recruitment exercises, with many calling for stricter protocols to protect lives.
