Six Dead, Dozens Injured in Crowd Crush at Ghana Military Recruitment Event

At least six people have died and more than twenty others were injured after a crowd crush at a military recruitment event in Ghana’s capital, Accra. The tragedy occurred on Wednesday morning at the El-Wak Stadium, where thousands of young people had gathered in hopes of securing a place in the Ghana Armed Forces.

According to an official statement, the deadly incident was triggered by an unexpected surge of applicants who broke through security barriers and rushed toward the gates. The Ghana Armed Forces described the event as “tragic,” saying that the breach caused chaos as people struggled to push their way inside before the start of the recruitment process.

“Preliminary reports suggest that an unexpected surge of applicants breached security protocols and rushed into the gates,” the statement read. “The Ghana Armed Forces deeply regret the loss of lives and extend heartfelt condolences to the families of those affected.”

Medical officials said that 22 people were injured, five of them critically. Victims were taken to the 37 Military Hospital, where families crowded the emergency ward throughout the day, waiting anxiously for updates. Witnesses described heartbreaking scenes as relatives wept outside and security officers struggled to control the crowd.

Ghana’s President John Mahama visited the hospital later in the afternoon to meet survivors and express condolences to the families. “This is a very sad day for Ghana,” he said. “We will ensure that a full investigation is carried out to understand what went wrong and to prevent such incidents in the future.”

The recruitment drive had drawn thousands of applicants from across the country, a reflection of Ghana’s high youth unemployment rate, which stands at around 32 percent. For many young Ghanaians, joining the military represents one of the few stable career paths available, and recruitment exercises often attract massive crowds.

Officials said the deadline for applications had been extended by a week to allow more people to register after technical issues with the online system, which may have contributed to the large turnout. The crush reportedly occurred before the event’s scheduled start time of 6:20 a.m., when impatient candidates began forcing their way through the gates.

In a separate incident the same day, another crush occurred during a recruitment session in the city of Kumasi, where five people were injured, according to local official Dr. Frank Amoakohene.

Army spokesperson Captain Veronica Adzo Arhin said that despite the tragic deaths, the recruitment process initially continued but was later suspended to allow for new safety measures. “The exercise was paused in the afternoon to ensure that all necessary precautions are put in place for a smooth and secure process,” she said.

Authorities have launched an investigation into the events at El-Wak Stadium, promising accountability and reforms in how recruitment activities are organized. For now, the nation mourns those who lost their lives in a desperate attempt to build a future in public service.