President John Dramani Mahama has directed the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) to suspend its nationwide recruitment exercise following the deaths and injuries recorded during stampedes in Accra and Kumasi.
Speaking at the launch of the Nkoko Nkitinkiti programme in the Ashanti Region, the president described the incident as “deeply regrettable” and called for a full investigation into the circumstances leading to the casualties.
President Mahama said the suspension would allow authorities to review safety and crowd control measures to prevent future tragedies. He stressed that the recruitment process must reflect “professionalism, discipline, and respect for human life.”
The GAF confirmed that six people died during the recruitment exercise at the El-Wak Sports Stadium, urging the public to ignore unverified figures circulating online.
Public concern has been mounting over the management of such recruitment drives, which often attract massive crowds due to high youth unemployment and limited job opportunities in the security services.