President John Mahama has ordered the Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) to suspend its ongoing nationwide recruitment exercise following reports of injuries and deaths recorded at recruitment centres in Accra and Kumasi.
He said the suspension would allow for a comprehensive investigation into the incidents and the introduction of stricter safety measures for future exercises.
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Speaking at the launch of the Nkoko Nkitinkiti programme in the Ashanti Region, President Mahama described the development as “deeply regrettable” and emphasised the need for reforms to protect lives.
“I have asked the leadership of the Armed Forces to temporarily halt the recruitment exercise and conduct a full investigation. We must take a fresh approach to ensure such unfortunate incidents do not happen again,” he said.
Reports indicate that the exercise, which attracted thousands of applicants nationwide, turned chaotic at some centres, leading to stampedes and injuries. In Kumasi and Accra, several applicants collapsed while attempting to enter overcrowded venues.
The Ghana Armed Forces clarified that six people died during Wednesday’s incident at the El-Wak Sports Stadium and urged the public to disregard unverified reports about higher casualty figures.
President Mahama reiterated that the safety of job seekers must remain paramount, stressing that the recruitment process must reflect professionalism, discipline, and respect for human life.
He also directed the Defence Ministry and the GAF to review their crowd management and screening procedures before resuming the exercise.
The president’s directive follows growing public concern over the management of large-scale recruitment drives, which continue to attract huge turnouts amid high youth unemployment and limited opportunities in the security sector.
The Ghana Armed Forces has yet to issue an official response to the president’s directive.
