Six people have died and at least 17 others are in a serious condition following stampedes at Ghana Armed Forces recruitment exercises in Accra and Kumasi.
The deadliest incident occurred at El-Wak Sports Stadium in the capital, Accra, where six prospective recruits lost their lives on Wednesday morning.
Five people are in intensive care and a further 12 are in critical condition, medical sources have confirmed.
The Ghana Armed Forces said the stampede was triggered when applicants breached security and rushed the gates before scheduled screening began at 06:20 local time.
More than 2,000 people had gathered at El-Wak Stadium for the exercise. Video footage shows desperate applicants climbing over the stadium walls in their rush to be screened early, apparently fearing they would be turned away if they arrived later in the day.
In a separate incident in Kumasi, five people were injured during a similar recruitment exercise at Baba Yara Stadium.
Those injured in Accra have been taken to 37 Military Hospital, where medical teams are working to stabilise patients.
“The Ghana Armed Forces deeply regrets to inform the general public of a tragic stampede,” said Captain Veronica Adzo Arhin, acting director general of public relations for the Ghana Navy.
She added that preliminary investigations suggested an “unexpected surge of applicants” had overwhelmed security protocols.
The military said medical teams were working to stabilise those affected, whilst arrangements were being made to notify families of the deceased.
The incidents highlight the intense competition for positions in Ghana’s armed forces, with thousands of young people typically attending recruitment exercises for limited vacancies.
More than 5,000 people have applied for military positions across the country in this recruitment cycle.
High unemployment rates in Ghana have consistently driven huge numbers of applicants to security service recruitment drives, with many young Ghanaians viewing the military as one of the few sources of stable employment.
The Ghana Armed Forces has promised further updates as investigations continue.
It extended its “deepest condolences” to bereaved families and wished those injured a swift recovery.
