By Issah Olegor
President John Dramani Mahama has visited the 37 Military Hospital in Accra to console victims of the tragic stampede that occurred during the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) recruitment exercise at the El Wak Sports Stadium on Wednesday morning.
The President’s visit comes hours after the deadly incident, which has so far claimed the lives of six potential recruits, leaving several others critically injured.
Accompanied by the Minister for Finance, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, and senior military officials, President Mahama received a detailed briefing from hospital authorities on the condition of the injured and the measures being taken to stabilize them.
Twelve victims remain in critical condition, with five currently in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), according to hospital sources.
The President, visibly disturbed by the tragedy, expressed his condolences to the bereaved families and assured the nation that a thorough investigation would be conducted to determine the cause of the stampede and prevent a recurrence.
“This is a painful day for our nation. These young people came here with hopes of serving Ghana, and it is heartbreaking that such a tragedy occurred. The government will ensure that every life lost is accounted for and lessons are learned,” he said.
The stampede, according to preliminary reports from the Ghana Armed Forces, was triggered by an unexpected surge of thousands of applicants who forced their way through the gates of the El Wak Stadium shortly after 6:00 a.m.
Witnesses said many of the applicants had camped outside the stadium overnight, eager to secure a spot for the highly competitive recruitment process.
Security officers stationed at the venue were overwhelmed by the sheer number of people pushing to gain entry.
Eyewitnesses recounted scenes of chaos, with many applicants falling to the ground and being trampled upon as the crowd surged forward.
Military police and emergency responders rushed to the scene to restore order and assist the injured.
The area has since been cordoned off, with roads leading to the stadium temporarily closed to facilitate rescue operations.
This year’s recruitment process had already faced challenges before the tragic event.
The Ghana Armed Forces had earlier announced a one-week extension of the 2025/2026 recruitment window due to technical issues with the online portal.
The extension attracted an even larger pool of applicants, many of whom traveled from various parts of the country to participate in the screening exercise in Accra.
The GAF, in a statement released after the incident, expressed deep regret over the loss of lives and promised to provide full medical and psychological support to survivors.
The statement also confirmed that the bodies of the deceased had been deposited at the 37 Military Hospital morgue pending identification and autopsy.
