President John Mahama has ordered the Ghana Armed Forces to suspend its nationwide recruitment drive after reports of multiple deaths in Accra and injuries in Kumasi.
The decision, he said, was to pave the way for a full investigation into the tragic incidents and to guarantee that future recruitment exercises are conducted under safer and more controlled conditions.
Speaking at the launch of the Nkoko Nkitinkiti programme in the Ashanti Region, Mahama called the situation “deeply regrettable” and emphasized that the process must be reformed to protect lives.
“I have asked the leadership of the Armed Forces to temporarily halt the recruitment exercise and conduct a full investigation. We must take a fresh approach to ensure such unfortunate incidents do not happen again,” the president reportedly said.
Thousands of young people across the country had gathered at recruitment centers, but overcrowding turned the process chaotic in several locations. In both Accra and Kumasi, stampedes were reported, with several applicants collapsing while struggling to enter the venues.
The Ghana Armed Forces confirmed that six people died in the El-Wak Sports Stadium incident on Wednesday, November 12, and urged the public to disregard unverified claims about higher numbers circulating on social media.
Mahama said the safety of applicants must be prioritized and that the Armed Forces’ recruitment procedures should reflect the institution’s values of discipline, professionalism, and respect for human life.
He also tasked the Defence Ministry and military leadership with reviewing their crowd control and screening systems before reopening the recruitment exercise.
The president’s directive comes amid growing national concern about the management of large-scale security recruitment events, which continue to draw huge crowds due to high youth unemployment and limited public sector job opportunities.
The Ghana Armed Forces has not yet issued an official statement responding to the president’s order.
