President John Dramani Mahama has expressed deep sorrow over the tragic deaths of six young women during the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) recruitment exercise at the El-Wak Sports Stadium in Accra.
Speaking at the launch of the Nkoko Nkitinkiti Poultry Initiative in Kumasi on Wednesday, the President described the incident as “a heartbreaking loss for the entire nation.” He revealed that all six victims were female applicants who had gone to the stadium in hopes of serving their country.
“The tragic news is that I have been informed by the military that six young women, who simply sought an opportunity to serve their nation, lost their lives in this heartbreaking incident. We are praying for the 12 others who remain in critical condition,” President Mahama said.
The President extended his condolences to the bereaved families and wished the injured a swift recovery.
He further called for a thorough investigation into the circumstances that led to the stampede, stressing the need for improved crowd management and safety protocols during public recruitment exercises and other national events.
The deadly stampede occurred earlier on Wednesday when thousands of hopeful applicants converged at the El-Wak Sports Stadium for the ongoing GAF recruitment exercise. The Ghana Armed Forces has since confirmed six deaths, all women, with several others injured and receiving treatment at the 37 Military Hospital in Accra.
The military has suspended the recruitment exercise until further notice as investigations continue into the cause of the tragedy.
