At least six people have died following a crowd crush during a military recruitment exercise held at the El-Wak Sports Stadium in Accra, Ghana.

The incident took place early Wednesday morning, before the official commencement of the event, when a sudden rush of applicants pushed past security barriers and flooded through the entrance gates.

Thousands of young people had gathered at the stadium in hopes of joining the Ghana Armed Forces, as the country continues to grapple with youth unemployment estimated at around 13%. The turnout was even higher than expected due to a one-week extension of the recruitment deadline, granted to accommodate applicants who had struggled with the online registration process.

STAMPEDE DURING GHANA ARMED FORCES RECRUITMENT EXERCISE AT EL-WAK SPORTS STADIUM pic.twitter.com/RcgNtlxQNj

— Ghana Armed Forces (@GhArmedForces) November 12, 2025

Several individuals sustained injuries and were rushed to the 37 Military Hospital in Accra for emergency treatment. Security forces have since brought the situation under control, and the recruitment exercise has resumed with reinforced safety measures.

In a statement, the Ghana Armed Forces extended their sympathies to the families of the victims and assured the public that a full investigation will be conducted to determine what led to the tragedy and to prevent a recurrence.

The incident underscores the growing pressure on limited employment opportunities in Ghana, where many young people view military service as a stable and desirable career path.