The Acting Minister for Defence, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, has expressed deep sorrow over the tragic stampede that occurred early Wednesday morning at the El-Wak Military Sports Facility in Accra during the ongoing Ghana Armed Forces recruitment exercise.
Addressing Parliament, Dr. Forson confirmed that six persons have died, while five others remain in critical condition at the Intensive Care Unit (ICU). He added that 12 victims are in fairly critical condition, with the remaining 34 casualties reported to be stable and under observation.
Dr. Forson explained that this year’s recruitment exercise was designed to be decentralized and simultaneously conducted across all regions to reduce congestion and ensure fairness. However, the unfortunate incident occurred despite safety measures that had been put in place.
“In light of these developments, the Ministry of Defence has halted the recruitment process in Accra until further notice,” Dr. Forson announced. He noted that the exercise in other regions is proceeding smoothly without incident.
The Acting Minister extended condolences to the bereaved families and assured Parliament that the Ministry is working closely with the Ghana Armed Forces, medical teams, and law enforcement agencies to support the injured and investigate the causes of the tragedy.
He further disclosed that the Ghana Armed Forces has constituted an internal Board of Inquiry to ascertain the circumstances that led to the stampede and recommend appropriate measures to prevent a recurrence.
“The safety and dignity of applicants remain paramount, and the Ministry will take every necessary step to ensure such a tragedy never happens again,” he emphasized.
The Ministry of Defence is expected to provide a detailed update to Parliament once investigations are concluded.