By Grace Zigah
The Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) has relieved two senior military officers of their duties in connection with the tragic stampede at the El-Wak Sports Stadium, which left six people dead and dozens injured during the nationwide recruitment exercise on Wednesday, November 12, 2025.
Military sources have confirmed that the officers in charge of supervising the Accra recruitment centre have been ordered to step aside to allow for a transparent and independent investigation into the circumstances that led to the fatal incident.
The affected officers are Air Commodore Thomas Nii Fio Okai, Director General of Human Resource, Defence Headquarters and Colonel Mathew Kwasi Asuka, Director of Personnel Administration, have been asked to step aside.
The GAF has subsequently appointed Commodore Francis Nyarko to take over from Air Commodore Okai while Colonel Kusi Darko is taking over as Director of Personnel Administration.
The decision, described by insiders as a disciplinary and precautionary measure, aims to ensure accountability and restore public trust in the recruitment process.
Their replacement forms part of broader internal reforms ordered by the Military High Command to prevent a recurrence of such lapses in future recruitment processes.
Tragedy
The deadly stampede occurred during the Ghana Armed Forces’ recruitment exercise at the El-Wak Sports Stadium in Accra, one of several centres across the country.
Thousands of applicants had converged on the venue to undergo documentation and body selection, but chaos erupted when an overwhelming crowd breached security barriers, leading to a crushing stampede.
The GAF confirmed that six people, all females died on the spot, while 28 others sustained injuries of varying degrees. Among the injured, five were admitted to the Intensive Care Unit (ICU) at the 37 Military Hospital, while 12 others were reported to be in critical but stable condition.
Eyewitnesses described scenes of panic and poor coordination, with reports suggesting that the venue was overcrowded and lacked sufficient crowd-control arrangements, despite prior warnings about the large turnout of applicants.
Accountability
The decision to remove the supervising officers follows mounting public pressure on the military hierarchy to take responsibility for what many have described as a preventable disaster.
Several lawmakers, civil society groups, and security analysts have argued that the tragedy was the result of poor planning, inadequate security protocols, and negligence on the part of those overseeing the exercise.
“This is a good move,” one security source told reporters. “The deaths could have been avoided if proper coordination and risk assessment had been done. Allowing the same officers to remain in charge while investigations are ongoing would compromise the integrity of the process.”
Speaker of Parliament Alban Bagbin earlier called for comprehensive reforms in the recruitment system, proposing that the Ghana Armed Forces adopt a continuous enlistment process instead of mass annual recruitment drives, which often attract overwhelming crowds and expose applicants to danger.
Military Response
Acting Minister of Defence, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, has already suspended the recruitment exercise in Accra pending the outcome of the internal inquiry.
He confirmed that a board of inquiry has been set up to investigate the causes of the tragedy and recommend corrective measures.
“The safety and dignity of applicants remain paramount,” Ato Forson told Parliament on Wednesday. “We will take every step necessary to prevent a recurrence of this matter and ensure that accountability is upheld.”
Meanwhile, President John Dramani Mahama has directed the Defence Ministry to provide full support for the victims and their families, including covering medical expenses and offering counselling services.
Nation in Mourning and Demanding Reform
The El-Wak tragedy has sent shockwaves across the country, with tributes pouring in from political leaders, civil society, and religious groups.
Families of the victims, including that of 22-year-old Priscilla Akua Nyamalor of Kasoa, have called for justice and systemic change.
Public outrage continues to mount over what many see as institutional failure in handling one of the most sensitive and high-stakes recruitment exercises.
