Former Vice President, Dr. Mahamudu Bawumia, has sent a heartfelt message of sympathy to the families of the six young women who tragically lost their lives in a stampede during the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) recruitment exercise at El-Wak Sports Stadium in Accra on Wednesday, November 12, 2025.
The incident, which occurred during a highly anticipated recruitment drive, saw thousands of job seekers, particularly young women, gathered at the stadium to apply for positions within the Armed Forces. Eyewitnesses reported that the situation quickly spiraled out of control as the overwhelming crowd and intense pushing at the stadium’s entry points led to chaos. Tragically, six female applicants were crushed to death in the pandemonium, while several others sustained varying degrees of injuries.
In an emotional post shared on his official Facebook page, Dr. Bawumia expressed deep sorrow over the loss of life and offered prayers for the grieving families. His message read, “My condolences go out to the families of the young Ghanaians who lost their lives today at the El-Wak Stadium. May the injured recover quickly, and the souls of our departed ladies rest in peace.”
The tragedy has sparked nationwide mourning, and many have called for urgent reforms to prevent similar incidents in future recruitment exercises. Dr. Bawumia, in his message, joined the calls for accountability and urged that the government and relevant authorities ensure that such tragedies do not occur again.
The Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) swiftly suspended the ongoing recruitment exercise. In a statement, they confirmed that six individuals had tragically passed away, and several others had been injured. Those wounded have been rushed to the 37 Military Hospital for medical treatment, with some still reported to be in critical condition.
The GAF has promised to cooperate fully with investigations to determine the exact cause of the stampede.
