Captain Veronica Adzo Arhin, Acting Director General of the Department of Public Relations of the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF), says the force remains shocked by the tragic stampede at the El-Wak Stadium that claimed the lives of six applicants.
Speaking on Citi Eyewitness News on Monday, November 17, Captain Arhin explained that the Armed Forces had, for the first time, introduced a decentralised recruitment system aimed at preventing overcrowding.
She noted that in previous years, applicants from across the country had to travel to El-Wak for screening. This year, however, the exercise was conducted at various regional centres to ease congestion — yet a stampede still occurred.
“We have done this over and over again, and we have always been doing everything in El-Wak. Everybody in the country would have been at El-Wak as well. The process is going on in all 16 regions as we speak, but for that, you could have just imagined the numbers.
“So, we are still at a loss because we thought we were bringing something innovative and for this very year, we are having this unfortunate incident. I believe that it is time for us to review whatever we are doing and come out with a better process.
“It has served us better over the years but unfortunately it has failed us this year and going forward, we will take steps to correct it,” she stated.
She added that some challenges were caused by individuals reporting to recruitment centres on days they were not scheduled to appear.
Captain Arhin further noted that GAF is awaiting the report from the committee set up to investigate the cause of the stampede and will adjust its processes based on the committee’s recommendations.
Meanwhile, the Ghana Armed Forces has announced that the 2025/2026 recruitment exercise will resume in the Greater Accra Region on Thursday, November 20, 2025.
