Mahama mourns six female victims of El-Wak recruitment tragedy

President John Dramani Mahama has expressed deep sorrow over the deaths of six young women who lost their lives during the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) recruitment exercise at the El-Wak Sports Stadium in Accra.

At the launch of the Nkoko Nkitinkiti Poultry Initiative in Kumasi on Wednesday, November 12, the President described the incident as “a heartbreaking loss for the entire nation,” noting that the victims had gone to the venue with hopes of serving Ghana through military service.

“I have received confirmation from the military that six young women, who simply wished to serve their country, died in this tragic incident. We continue to pray for the 12 others who remain in critical condition,” President Mahama said.

He extended condolences to the bereaved families and wished the injured a swift recovery, adding that no recruitment drive should ever cost lives.

The President further directed a full investigation into the circumstances that led to the tragedy, urging the Armed Forces to strengthen safety protocols and crowd control during all public events.

The deadly stampede occurred early Wednesday when thousands of job seekers flooded the El-Wak Stadium for screening as part of the ongoing nationwide military recruitment. Reports indicated that by 2 a.m., the venue was already near capacity, and the crowd continued to grow as dawn approached.

Eyewitnesses described chaotic scenes as hopeful applicants, many dressed in white T-shirts and trainers, tried to push through congested entry points.

Bags and personal items were strewn behind them as security personnel struggled to restore order.

The Ghana Armed Forces later confirmed that six people had died, while several others sustained injuries and were receiving treatment at the 37 Military Hospital. In a statement, GAF urged the public to disregard unverified reports circulating about the casualty figures.

The 2025/2026 recruitment exercise, aimed at enlisting 12,000 new personnel into the Army, Navy, and Air Force over three years, has now been suspended pending investigations.

Prior to the tragedy, the Armed Forces had extended the application deadline by one week due to technical issues with the recruitment portal.

The screening phase was scheduled to take place nationwide over two days, with documentation and body selection exercises at designated centres, including El-Wak.

As the sun rose that morning, anticipation filled the air among hundreds of young men and women eager to serve. By evening, however, the nation was left in mourning.