A stampede at El-Wak Sports Stadium during a Ghana Armed Forces recruitment exercise on Wednesday morning has left six people dead and 28 others injured, officials confirmed. Five victims are in critical condition in the Intensive Care Unit of 37 Military Hospital, while 12 others are receiving serious treatment.
The Ghana Armed Forces clarified that reports claiming 12 people had died are inaccurate. In a statement, the Forces said the confirmed death toll stands at six, with dozens more receiving medical care.
Eyewitnesses described scenes of chaos as thousands of young applicants converged on the stadium, eager to secure a place in the military. The crowd, which became severely congested at the gates, reportedly panicked, leading to a deadly crush.
The six victims have been taken to the 37 Military Hospital morgue, while injured applicants are being treated at the hospital’s emergency and casualty wards. Security personnel cordoned off the area and blocked major roads to allow rescue operations to proceed safely.
The recruitment exercise had recently been extended by one week due to technical difficulties with the online application portal. Colonel Evelyn Ntiamoah Asamoah, Acting Director General of Public Relations for the Ghana Armed Forces, said the extension was intended to give applicants more time to complete their submissions, but it also contributed to the large crowd at the stadium.
Authorities continue to manage the situation and investigate the circumstances that led to the stampede.
