President John Dramani Mahama has instructed the Ghana Armed Forces to put a temporary stop to its ongoing nationwide recruitment campaign following reports of injuries and fatalities in Accra and Kumasi.
He stated that the suspension would facilitate a comprehensive probe into the incidents and help ensure that future recruitment efforts are carried out in safer and more regulated environments.
During the inauguration of the Nkoko Nkitinkiti initiative in the Ashanti Region, President Mahama referred to the situation as “deeply regrettable” and emphasized the importance of reforms to avert further harm.
“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,” he said.
Accounts suggest that the recruitment drive, which attracted thousands of hopefuls nationwide, descended into disorder at certain locations, resulting in stampedes and injuries. In Kumasi and Accra, numerous young applicants reportedly fainted while trying to access overcrowded venues.
The Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) confirmed that the number of deaths from the tragic event at El-Wak Sports Stadium on Wednesday, November 12, stands at six, and urged the public to ignore any inaccurate or unverified information circulating about the incident.
President Mahama reiterated that the well-being of potential recruits must be the foremost concern, noting that the military’s recruitment procedures should embody professionalism, discipline, and a respect for human life.
He further called on the Defence Ministry and the Ghana Armed Forces to reassess their crowd control and vetting protocols before restarting the recruitment process.
The president’s order comes in response to increasing public unease over the management of large-scale recruitment events, which typically draw massive crowds due to widespread youth unemployment and scarce job opportunities within the security sector.
The Ghana Armed Forces has not yet released an official statement regarding the president’s directive.
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