Minister for Finance and Acting Minister for Defence, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, has confirmed that 34 people were affected in the tragic stampede that occurred on Wednesday morning at the El-Wak Military Sports Stadium in Accra during the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) recruitment exercise.
He described the incident as a deeply regrettable tragedy and announced the immediate suspension of the recruitment exercise in Accra while investigations continue.
Delivering a statement to Parliament on the incident, Dr. Forson planted the stampede despite the measures that were put in place to decentralize and ensure transparency in this year’s recruitment exercise.
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“I regret to report that there were 34 persons who were direct casualties. Some of these are potential recruits, while others, unfortunately, were not related to the enlistment at all,” he said.
According to the Acting Defence Minister, out of the 34 casualties, five are in critical condition and currently receiving treatment in the Intensive Care Unit (ICU), while four others are in fairly critical condition. The remaining victims, he said, are stable and under medical observation.
“Mr. Speaker, the Ministry of Defence deeply mourns the loss of life and extends condolences to the affected families. We are working closely with the Ghana Armed Forces, medical teams, and law enforcement agencies to provide full support to the injured and to investigate the circumstances that led to this tragedy,” Dr. Forson stated.
The Ghana Armed Forces, he said, has instituted an internal board of inquiry to investigate the causes of this unfortunate incident, and assured that the safety and dignity of applicants remain paramount, and the Ministry will take every necessary step to prevent a recurrence.
Dr. Forson assured Parliament that the recruitment exercise in other regions of the country is progressing smoothly and without incident, emphasizing that the process had been designed to reduce congestion, ensure fairness, and improve accessibility nationwide.
He added that one separate case had been reported at the Kumasi recruitment center, but clarified that it was not related to the stampede at El-Wak.
The government, he assured, remains committed to supporting the affected families and improving safety protocols for future security service recruitments.
“Mr. Speaker, the Ministry of Defence mourns with the nation. We shall learn from this tragedy and ensure that our systems are improved to protect the lives and dignity of all applicants,” Dr. Forson assured.