Following the tragic incident at the Ghana Armed Forces recruitment exercise held at the El-Wak Sports Stadium in Accra has left six people dead and several others injured, prompting the Ministry of Defence to immediately suspend the ongoing recruitment process.

In a statement read on the floor of Parliament by the Acting Minister for Defence, Dr. Cassiel Ato Forson, the Ministry expressed deep sorrow over the unfortunate development, describing it as a national tragedy.

“The Ministry of Defence extends its heartfelt condolences to the families of the deceased and wishes a speedy recovery to those injured,” the statement read.

Dr. Forson said preliminary reports indicate that the incident occurred during the early hours of the exercise when a large crowd of applicants surged through the facility’s entry points, leading to a stampede.

Emergency services responded swiftly, but six individuals were confirmed dead upon arrival at the hospital.

The Ministry has suspended the recruitment exercise nationwide pending the outcome of a comprehensive investigation to determine the circumstances that led to the tragedy.

“An internal inquiry has been instituted to establish the causes of this unfortunate event and to recommend measures to prevent any recurrence in future recruitment exercises,” Dr. Forson added.

He further assured that the Ministry is collaborating with the Ghana Armed Forces, the Ghana Police Service, and health authorities to ensure that the injured receive the best possible medical care and that affected families are supported during this difficult period.

Meanwhile, security has been tightened around the El-Wak facility as investigators gather evidence and assess crowd management lapses that may have contributed to the fatal incident.