The Ghana Armed Forces (GAF) will resume its suspended recruitment exercise in the Greater Accra Region on Thursday, November 20, 2025, with a new system designed to prevent overcrowding at screening centres.
In a statement issued on Monday by the Department of Public Relations at the General Headquarters, the military announced that qualified applicants will receive SMS messages indicating their reporting dates, batch numbers, and designated screening centres.
Each batch will consist of 600 applicants.
According to the statement, signed by Captain Veronica Adzo Arhin of the Ghana Navy and Acting Director General of Public Relations, the controlled batching system is intended to prevent a recurrence of the November 12 stampede at the El-Wak Stadium, which resulted in six deaths and injured 28 others.
Applicants who do not receive an SMS by Thursday have been advised to call the GAF helpline at 0256405104 or send a WhatsApp message to 0256405154 for assistance. Updates will also be available on the recruitment portal.
Screening will be conducted at eight sub-centres across five locations: the El-Wak Stadium; Nicholson Park at Burma Camp; the Air Force Base, Burma Camp; the Training and Doctrine Command in Teshie; and the Eastern Naval Command in Tema.
To reduce congestion, the military cautioned relatives and friends against accompanying applicants to the centres, noting that non-applicants will not be granted entry.
The 2025/2026 recruitment exercise was suspended following the deadly stampede on November 12, which occurred around 6:20 a.m. when large crowds forced their way through security barriers ahead of the scheduled screening time.
All six deceased were female applicants. Five of the injured remain in the Intensive Care Unit at the 37 Military Hospital, while 12 others are in critical condition.
A Board of Inquiry established to investigate the incident is still at work. The GAF has reassigned the entire Greater Accra recruitment team to ensure fairness and transparency in the ongoing investigation.
Commodore F. A. Nyarko, Colonel F. Kusi-Darko, and Colonel G. B. Eduah have assumed new roles as Director General of Human Resource, Director of Manpower, and Director of Information Technology, respectively.
The military expressed regret for the tragedy and extended condolences to the affected families. It further assured that all injured applicants will continue to receive free medical care at the 37 Military Hospital until full recovery.
Additionally, a special recruitment package will be offered to all injured applicants upon recovery, as well as to families of the deceased.
The GAF emphasized that individuals found responsible for the incident will face sanctions.
The Armed Forces urged the public to cooperate with the new measures to ensure a smooth and safe recruitment process.
Source: www.kumasimail.com
