By Nadia Ntiamoah p
Tears, grief, and disbelief filled the home of Abigail Nyamalor in Akweley, Kasoa, as she mourned her 22-year-old daughter, Priscilla Akua Nyamalor, one of the six victims who lost their lives in the El-Wak Sports Stadium recruitment stampede on Wednesday, November 12, 2025.
In a deeply emotional interview with Adom FM, Abigail recounted her daughter’s final words before the tragedy that has plunged their family into sorrow.
Priscilla, a Senior High School graduate who worked with the Consolidated Bank Ghana (CBG) at its Kasoa branch, had left home that morning filled with hope and excitement for the Ghana Armed Forces recruitment exercise — a dream she had long nurtured.
“I was aware that she was going for the Army recruitment exercise, so I escorted her to board a car. She later called and told me there was a huge crowd at the stadium,” Madam Abigail said, struggling to hold back tears.
“I told her to be strong and remember that God was with her. She told me she would switch off her phone because of the crowd, and that I shouldn’t worry. That was the last time I heard her voice.”
Hours later, her repeated attempts to reach Priscilla went unanswered. A strange voice eventually picked up the phone — a young man who told her that Priscilla was unwell and had been rushed to the 37 Military Hospital.
Moments later, she overheard someone in the background say her daughter was one of the victims of the stampede at the El-Wak Sports Stadium.
Abigail said she immediately broke down upon hearing the devastating confirmation that her only daughter had died.
Background of the Tragedy
The deadly incident occurred during the Ghana Armed Forces’ annual recruitment exercise at the El-Wak Sports Stadium in Accra.
According to the GAF, six people died, while 28 others sustained injuries and were rushed to the 37 Military Hospital for emergency treatment.
Five victims were placed in intensive care, while 12 others remained in critical condition.
Eyewitnesses reported that the chaos began when hundreds of eager applicants, desperate to gain entry, breached security barriers, leading to a massive stampede.
The overcrowding, combined with intense heat and poor crowd control, resulted in several people collapsing from suffocation and trauma.
Family And Public Reactions
When journalists from Adom FM visited the Nyamalor residence, family members, neighbours, and friends could be seen consoling Abigail as she wept uncontrollably.
Videos circulating on TikTok and other social media platforms captured her heartbreak as she called out her daughter’s name, expressing disbelief that her promising life had been cut short.
“Priscilla had dreams,” said a family friend. “She wanted to serve her country, help her mother, and build a better future. She didn’t deserve to die like this.”
Wider Impact And Calls for Accountability
The El-Wak tragedy has triggered widespread national outrage and sorrow, with many questioning the planning and safety measures of the recruitment process.
Several politicians and civil society groups have called for a comprehensive investigation into the incident.
