Paul Twum-Barimah mourns six lives lost at El-Wak Stadium Military recruitment exercise
A former Member of Parliament for Dormaa East, Paul Twum-Barimah, has extended his heartfelt condolences to the families of the six young women who tragically lost their lives during a military recruitment exercise at the El-Wak Sports Stadium in Accra on Wednesday, November 12, 2025.
In a statement shared on his Facebook page on Thursday, November 13, 2025, Hon. Twum-Barimah described the incident as a heartbreaking reminder of the worsening unemployment crisis in the country. He called on national stakeholders to adopt a unified approach to address the challenge.
“My deepest condolences to the families of the six (6) young ladies who tragically lost their lives yesterday at the El-Wak Sports Stadium in their quest to become military officers to serve our motherland,” he wrote.
He lamented that the tragic deaths occurred as the young women pursued their dream of serving Ghana through the Ghana Armed Forces, a reflection of the desperation among many youth seeking meaningful employment opportunities.
Mr. Twum-Barimah stressed that the tragedy should not be treated as an isolated incident but as a call to action for government, policymakers, and private sector actors to create sustainable job opportunities for the country’s growing youth population.
“Their unfortunate death should serve as a constant reminder of the stark reality of the alarming unemployment situation in the country, which requires a concerted approach to tackle,” he stated.
The former lawmaker called for calm and compassion as investigations continue into the circumstances that led to the incident. He also encouraged authorities to institute safety and crowd management measures in future national recruitment exercises to prevent a recurrence.
Mr. Twum-Barimah further prayer for the repose of the souls of the deceased and comfort for their grieving families.
“May their souls rest in peace,” he said solemnly.
Background
A stampede at the El Wak Stadium on Wednesday morning, where the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) was recruiting soldiers, led to the death of six people with several others injured, the GAF has confirmed.
Per reports, the injured persons are receiving treatment at the 37 Military Hospital. Some are in critical condition.
In a statement confirming the tragic incident, the Ghana Armed Forces expressed deep regret about the stampede, which it said occurred prior to the commencement of the 2025/2026 recruitment exercise today.
The exercise is happening simultaneously at various centres throughout Ghana.
According to the GAF, at the El Wak Stadium in Accra, preliminary investigation indicates that the stampede was triggered by an unexpected surge of applicants who breached security protocols and rushed to the gate 06:20 hours ahead of the scheduled screening.
The unfortunate incident led to the death of six potential recruits, and many others were injured, the GAF said.
The injured are currently receiving medical care at the 37 Military Hospital.
